Dash of blue

Flitting high around trees and vegetation on gentle spring days, the Holly Blue is one of the first butterflies of the year to emerge. In the early days of the season, as its name suggests, it can be found concentrated around holly bushes, which provide nourishment for the caterpillars of the season’s generation. The Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus, can be reliably identified by the pale silvery blue underside of its wings, with small black dots, but never any orange as in other blue species. The upper wing is a bright blue, edged with black, with a broader dark edge on females. It is a common sight in gardens throughout England and Wales, particularly in the south, flying much higher than other blue species, which tend to stay closer to the ground. The flash of its bright wings are a welcome sign that days are warming and growing lighter.