Common Blue
| Use attributes for filter ! | |
| Scientific name | Polyommatus icarus |
|---|---|
| Higher classification | Polyommatus |
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Rank | Species |
| Family | Lycaenidae |
| Date of Reg. | |
| Date of Upd. | |
| ID | 1189339 |
About Common Blue
The common blue butterfly is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae and subfamily Polyommatinae. The butterfly can be found in Europe, North Africa, [iran] and the Canary Islands, but it is especially common throughout the British Isles.
UK butterfly numbers at highest level since 2019
... Species which have declined since last year and over the long term include ringlet, Common Blue and speckled wood, according to the research...
Big Butterfly Count: Sightings worryingly low, say UK conservationists
... This year s unusually warm summer is thought to be behind the increased sightings of other species like the Common Blue - up 158%, and the Gatekeeper - up 58%...
The fight to save vanishing wildflower meadows
... " Species such as the Common Blue butterfly, which you might find here, are reliant on wildflowers like bird s foot trefoil...
Common blue butterfly makes comeback thanks to heatwave
...Common Blue butterflies might be looking at another population boom thanks to the recent hot weather...
Painted lady butterflies emerge in once-a-decade phenomenon
... Common Blue comebackThe species often lay eggs on thistles, giving them the name Thistle Butterfly...
Big Butterfly Count: Which common UK species to look for
... Common Blue: This is the most widespread blue butterfly in Britain, The males are blue, while the colour of the females varies from nearly completely brown to predominantly blue...
Painted lady butterflies emerge in once-a-decade phenomenon
Large clouds of Painted Lady butterflies are being spotted across the UK and Ireland - and experts believe we are seeing a mass emergence that happens every 10 years.
Weather conditions and food sources are providing ideal conditions for the species to thrive.
Sightings of Painted Ladies - otherwise known as Vanessa cardui - have prompted countless pictures and videos to be posted to Social Media .
About 11 million of the butterflies were seen in the UK during The Last "Painted Lady year" in 2009.
Simon Milne, Regius Keeper at The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, describes the phenomenon as "an amazing wonder of nature".
On a normal day, in a regular year, Simon said he would expect to see about 10 to 15 of the species at the botanic gardens.
But he has encountered thousands of Painted Ladies in The Past few days, and predicts that this year could see bigger numbers than ever before.
We are currently seeing a wave of home-grown butterflies, which are The Descendants of those carried on winds from sub-Saharan Africa, along with newer arrivals from continental Europe.
Despite their delicate appearance, the insects can cover up to 100 miles each day as they migrate.
Painted Ladies complete their Life Cycle in five to eight weeks. It can take up to six generations to make the annual migration, leaving Africa in April to head north and returning once cooler weather settles at this latitude.
Tom Prescott, senior conservation officer with Butterfly Conservation Scotland, says that favourable breeding conditions mean we could see another wave of butterflies at the end of the summer "come Early Autumn , we could be up to our knees in them," he said.
Numbers depend on favourable conditions earlier in the year, where the butterflies spend winter, warmer temperatures and favourable wind conditions as they migrate north.
Common Blue comebackThe species often lay eggs on thistles, giving them the name Thistle Butterfly. Adults tend to feed on flowering plants and are often attracted to buddleia plants.
The Public is being asked to to help Butterfly Conservation monitor numbers of this and other species.
Many butterfly species have been in decline.
According to the Butterfly Conservation Society , there is "evidence of the serious, long-term and ongoing decline of UK butterflies".
However, The Society believes could be making a comeback.
During 2018's record-breaking hot weather, numbers increased in Scotland by 29% on the previous year. They are now predicting The Butterfly could be in line for its best year yet.
The Society 's - Last published in 2015 - indicated 70% of species declining in occurrence and 57% declining in abundance since 1976 .
nature, butterflies, edinburgh
Source of news: bbc.com
Common blue Photos
