The Common Blue butterfly, Polyommatus icarus is the most widespread blue butterfly in Britain and Ireland and is found in a variety of grassy habitats. It was one of the original 18 British butterflies listed in 1634 by Thomas Moffet in Insectorum Theatrum and was familiar to the earliest entomologists, who called it 'The Little Blew Argus'. It remains common today; in the High Weald any warm patch of waste ground or rough, unfertilised pasture is likely to hold a few individuals and is a feature of High Weald unimproved meadows.
It usually stays near the ground vegetation, particularly Bird’s foot trefoil, its main foodplant.
The upperwing of the male completely blue. The female is more brown and the orange dots (lunules) on the upperwing are often poorly defined.
Visit the Butterfly Conservation gardening page for tips on how to encourage butterflies into your garden.