Butterflies
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wingspan 25 mm
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Butterfly Survey 1976-2020
Small Blue
Small Blue Cupido minimus
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Wingspan - 18-25 mm
The small blue is highly localised butterfly that can persist for many years in a confined area with a low colony density under variable climatic conditions. The colony I worked on at Shoreham White Hill was discovered by pure chance, the butterfly being so subtle in flight that it could be mistaken for a series of other small butterflies and moths. Consequent to the discovery, I had the opportunity to discuss the colony with Richard Chalmers-Hunt, writer of Butterflies of Kent, who confirmed that the butterfly had bred in the particular dell at the foot of the Fackenden Down near White Hill, Shoreham, since 1926, (to his knowledge). in 2019 the colony looks very secure, even expanding its range and numbers across to fackenden Bank. Now present for the first time in Bromley Common 2018 -2019 - last local records, Farnborough 1909.
Habit: male and female butterflies differ, the male having a dusting of pale blue scales (as above), the female plainer - undersides are simlilar. Best found by studying areas near or surrounding the butterfly foodplant at suitable times in the year - very subtle on the wing.
Single brooded**: over winters as a fully developed larvae, eggs are secreted in the flower head.
Larval Foodplant: kidney vetch
WH - White Hill Shoreham (Fackenden*) BC - Bromley Common, Ha- Hayes --BN -Bromley North Ey- Eynsford Orp-Orpington HE-High Elms Lull- Lullingstone Sel -Selsdon* Hut - Hutchinson Bank*
* East Surrey/Kent border -
** Possible second brood in 2018
Status: colony at White Hill to the right of Fackenden extant and secure..
© Rodney Compton