Lycaenid Collection

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) basking in the morning light, Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. July

Mating pair of chalkhill blue butterflies (Lysandra coridon) with wings closed resting on Devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Hatch Hill, Somerset, UK. August

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) resting on Devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Volehouse Farm, Devon, UK. August

Green hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys rubi) on hawthorn leaf, Wiltshire, England, UK, April

Small copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) on common ragwort, Brockley Cemetery, Lewisham, London, England, UK, August

Blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) frozen in ice, Cortes de la Frontera, Los Alcornocales Natural Park. Spain

Geranium Argus butterfly (Plebejus eumedon) feeding on Wood Cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum) northern Finland, June

Small copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) in meadow. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. May

Silver-studded blue butterflies (Plebejus argus) resting on grass and backlit by the sun, Upton Towans, Cornwall, UK. June 2017

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) resting on grasses, Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. June 2017

Male common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) basking wings open on grass, Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. June

Small copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas) standing on an Aster flower in a meadow, Bath and northeast Somerset, UK, September

RF - Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) resting on grass. Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. September

Chalkhill blue butterfly (Polyommatus coridon) Hatch Hill, Somerset, UK. August

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) female, Sutcliffe Park Nature Reserve, Eltham, London, England, UK. August

Male Chalkhill blue (Lysandra coridon) feeding on Wild marjoram flowers (Origanum vulgare) in a chalk grassland meadow, Wiltshire, UK, August

Iolas blue butterfly (Iolana iolas) pair mating, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

Iolas blue butterfly (Iolana iolas) pair mating on flowers, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) on buttercup in meadow, Cornwall, England, UK, May

Purple hairstreak butterfly (Neozephyrus quercus) female with wings open, Hertfordshire, England, UK, July. Focus Stacked Image

Scarce Copper (Lycaena virgaureae) male in meadow on ox-eye daisy, Joutsa (formerly Leivonmaki), Finland, July

Female chalkhill blue butterfly (Lysandra coridon) with wings closed resting on Devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Hatch Hill, Somerset, UK. August 2016

Chalkhill blue adult (Lysandra coridon) silhouetted at dusk against red sky, Cambridgeshire, England, UK, August

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) female, Southwest London, England, UK. June

Silver studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus) resting on grass blade, Gwithian Towans, Cornwall, UK. June

Adonis blue butterfly (Polyommatus bellargus) male, resting on Clover (Trifolium sp. ), Upper Bavaria, Germany. June
Adonis blue butterfly (Polyommatus bellargus) male, resting on Clover (Trifolium sp.), Upper Bavaria, Germany. June

European common blue (Polyommatus icarus) male resting on a flower, Estonia, June

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) roosting in morning light, Devon, UK. July

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) resting on Devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis). Devon, England, UK. August

RF - Chalkhill blue butterfly (Lysandra coridon) male resting on Small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria). Somerset, England, UK. July 2019

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) basking in the evening sunshine, Devon, UK. June

Silver-studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus), two resting amongst grasses, in morning. The Netherlands. July

Dead Langs short-tailed blue butterfly (Leptotes pirithous) in a river with bacterial film, Los Alcornocales Natural Park, Southern Spain, September

Fritillary butterfly (Argynnis sp) with Scarce copper butterflies (Lycaena virgaureae) Queyras, Alps, France. August

Iolas blue butterfly (Iolana iolas) pair mating on flowers, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) soft focus resting on grass, Vealand Farm Devon Wildlife Trust Reserve, Devon, England, UK. September

Large copper butterfly (Lycaena dispar), female, Finland, July

Male chalkhill blue butterfly (Lysandra coridon) with wings closed resting on Devils-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Hatch Hill, Somerset, UK. August 2016

Mazarine blue butterfly (Cyaniris semiargus) Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

RF - Eschers blue butterfly (Polyommatus escheri) on grass, with soft focus blue flowers, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy

Male Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) Sutcliffe Park Nature Reserve, London. Eltham, London, UK. August

Male Common copper (Lycaena salustius) resting with wings open, Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, November

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) resting on Scabious (Scabiosa colombaria) flower, Volehouse Farm, Devon, UK. August 2014

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) resting on devils bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. August

RF - Common blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) resting on a backlit grass, evening light, Vealand Farm, Devon, UK. June

Silver-studded blue butterfly (Plebejus argus) pair mating, resting on a Pyrimidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis) flower, Gwithian Towans, Cornwall, UK, July

Lycaenidae, hairstreak butterflies
Original drawing for a plate in A field guide to the butterflies of the West Indies. Artwork by Brian Hargreaves. This image must not be used without permission from Brian Hargreaves

Adonis blue butterfly from the collections at the Natural History Museum, London

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"Captivating Lycaenids: A Glimpse into the World of Blue Butterflies" In the tranquil morning light at Vealand Farm, Devon, UK, common blue butterflies gracefully bask on delicate blades of grass. Their vibrant wings shimmer with hues of azure and silver, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Meanwhile, in Wiltshire, England, a green hairstreak butterfly delicately perches upon a hawthorn leaf. Its emerald-green wings blend seamlessly with nature's tapestry as it enjoys the April breeze. Journeying to Gwithian Towans in Cornwall during June reveals a stunning sight - a silver studded blue butterfly finds respite atop a slender grass blade. The gentle sunlight illuminates its intricate patterns and transforms it into an ethereal vision. At Brockley Cemetery in Lewisham, another enchanting scene unfolds as a small copper butterfly alights upon vibrant common ragwort flowers. Its fiery orange wings contrast beautifully against the golden blooms. Venturing further to Cortes de la Frontera in Los Alcornocales Natural Park unveils an extraordinary encounter - a frozen blue butterfly encased within ice. Nature's artistry captures this delicate creature for eternity amidst its icy embrace. Wood Cranesbill becomes both sustenance and sanctuary for the Geranium Argus butterfly feeding fervently within Upper Bavaria's meadows. This delightful interaction showcases their harmonious relationship with nature's flora. The Peak District National Park in Derbyshire offers solace to yet another small copper butterfly fluttering through lush meadows. Against the backdrop of rolling hills and wildflowers, it dances gracefully on fragile petals. Backlit by the radiant sunrays at Vealand Farm once again are common blue butterflies resting serenely on swaying grasses. Their peaceful presence adds tranquility to this idyllic landscape. Gwithian Towans presents yet another breathtaking moment as a silver-studded blue butterfly finds solace atop a grass head.