Insect · GBIF taxon 1925221
Chalkhill Blue
Lysandra coridonMale Chalkhill Blues have pale silvery-blue upperwings edged in dark markings and black-and-white checkered fringes. Females are mostly brown above, and caterpillars depend on horseshoe vetch growing in short, warm limestone grassland.
blue butterflychalk grasslandhorseshoe vetch specialist
Licensed referencegailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Adults drink flower nectar; caterpillars feed primarily on horseshoe vetch leaves
Predators
- birds
- spiders
- predatory wasps
ThreatsScrub encroachment, fertilizer enrichment, loss of grazing, pesticides, and climate extremes
HabitatsShort chalk and limestone grassland, sunny slopes, quarries, and sparsely vegetated calcareous ground
Life spanAdults live for a few weeks; one generation normally completes the annual cycle
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyLycaenidae
- SpeciesLysandra coridon
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Stay on paths through fragile chalk turf and leave horseshoe vetch undisturbed.
Responsible observation
- Identify: Check males for pale blue wings with strongly checkered outer fringes.
- Watch: Search low warm slopes where adults settle near horseshoe vetch.
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.