Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) Nájade

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Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) Nájade

Insects and other creepy crawlies - Butterflies

These butterflies have a distinctive silvery blue under wing with very fine black marks more linear than spots. They fly very early in the year if it is warm and are likely to be seen around trees and bushes as they feed on honeydew. The upper wings are blue, the male has a fine black border and the female a broader black band. The caterpillars of this species grow up to 1cm long, they are green with cream or pink markings.

Family: Lycaenidae
Scientific name: Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus 1758)
English common name: Holly Blue
Spanish common name: Nájade
Portuguese common name: Azul Celeste

Wing size: 26-34mm
Altitude: Sea level to 1900m
Flight time: February-October in several broods
Over-wintering: Chrysalis
Caterpillar food plant: Hedera, Ilex, Cornus, Rhamnus, Calluna vulgaris, Rubus sp.
Distribution: Most of Europe and north Africa

Similar species: Osiris Blue (Cupido Osiris) which is more blue on the under side with black spots, rather than lines.

Butterflies of Iberia
These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia.
Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.