Chalk-hill Blue
Lysandra coridon
| Home | The Butterflies of Gloucestershire | Species | Habitats | Conservation |
Chalk-hill BlueLysandra coridon |
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| Male, 16 August 1980 | Female, 29 August 1992 |
Habitat
Chalk-hill Blue colonies are found on unimproved Cotswold grasslands
where Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) grows. Unlike some
grassland species which can survive on very small areas of habitat,
Chalk-hill Blue colonies are mostly on quite large areas of suitable
grassland.
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| Female, 5 August 1978 |
Conservation Issues
Population sizes fluctuate from year to year and site to site. Heavy
grazing during the summer seems to be very detrimental, but total lack
of grazing for several years can eliminate a colony because the
foodplant becomes scarce in the long grass.
One year, Horseshoe vetch on one site seemed to disappear almost completely, although seedling growth restored the habitat in subsequent years. The cause of this event was uncertain, and the effect was only observed because the site was being monitored following an Adonis Blue reintroduction.
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Flight PeriodMainly late July to late August.
DistributionThroughout the Cotswolds on suitable sites. There are a few records of the species at some distance from its nearest colony.
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