Holly Blue (celastrina argiolus)
2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 10989_male_Var_31May08 | 0850_female_Var_23May06 | 10199_female_Var_3May08 |
The male ups has a very narrow black border, thicker at the apical area, whereas the female has a heavier black upf border which is thicker in the second brood. It usually settles with wings closed, though. The uns cannot really be confused with any other species as the unf spots are straight and in vertical alignment. It is one of the first butterflies to emerge in the UK and can often be seen flying a higher levels above the ground than you would expect for a blue.
10989: a male, puddling.
0850: a second generation female (they start early in the south of France), with very heavy black edging, the heaviest I have ever seen, hence the inclusion of this rather poor photograph. It may just be a very heavily marked first generation, but on balance, I'd go for second.
10199: a female, based on body shape. There are vestigial, but clearly visible, unh marginal marks most marked in s2 and s3. This seems unusual, but maybe this is only because I have never noticed it before.
