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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
Also known as the 'Little Blue' the Small Blue is the smallest native British Butterfly and is easily overlooked. The upper wings of this tiny butterfly tend to be a dusky brown fringed with white with a sheen of blue scales radiating out from the body. Its undersides are a dull blue-gray colour with small dark spots again with a hint of blue extending from the body.
Males are highly territorial selecting a prominent perch in a sheltered position. The females tend to disperse to lay eggs on the buds and flowers of the larval food plant Kidney Vetch. Males and females are easily found in communal roosts during the early evening as the sun begins to set.
The Small Blue is a Priority Species for conservation due to the continued loss of habitat and resulting drop in population.
Habitat
The main requirements of the Small Blue are dry sheltered areas of grassland where Kidney Vetch grows. Sites must have sparse or eroding vegetation with bare ground where Kidney Vetch seedlings can become established and where flowering Kidney Vetch is abundant.
The Small Blue is best looked for on chalk and limestone grassland coastal grassland sand dunes, quarries, gravel pits, and disused railways.
Larval Food Plants
Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) is sole larval food plant of the Small Blue.
The larvae live in the flower heads where they feed on the developing seeds. |
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 12 photographs of the Small Blue in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1565 - Small Blue
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BB1529 - Small Blue
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BB361 - Small Blue
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BB337 - Small Blue
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BB336 - Small Blue
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BB266 - Small Blue
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BB265 - Small Blue
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BB145 - Small Blue
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| Distribution |
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| The Small Blue tends to live in small colonies restricted to small patches of sheltered grassland where Kidney Vetch the larval food plant is found and is declining in most areas. In Scotland the Small Blue is in decline, particularly in southern Scotland. Strongholds remain along the Angus coast and the Moray Firth. |
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| Where to see the Small Blue |
Warwickshire: Southam Quarry
Gloucestershire: Prestbury Hill
Isle of Wight: Compton Down |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Small Blue is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  up by 121% |
(1976-2004)  down by -6% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
candidate priority species (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 near threatened4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Small Blue can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 8 named aberrant forms of the Small Blue. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. caeca - Courvoisier (1907) |
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| ab. magnipuncta - Tutt (1908) |
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| ab. multistriata - Howarth (1973) |
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| ab. obsoleta - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. pallida - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. semiobsoleta - Tutt (1908) |
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| ab. striata - Tutt (1908) |
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| ab. violascens - Tutt (1908) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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18-27mm
