Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus)
Local information
The Silver-studded Blue became extinct in Cheshire during the 1920's, but has been re-introduced at one site on the Wirral in 1994.
In 2005 there were no sightings of the Silver-studded Blue despite regular surveys. The colony is now considered extinct although further checks will be conducted in 2006.
When to see: June to early August
Habitat: Lowland heath
Behaviour: Patrol. Slow, fluttery flight.
Adult nectar plant: Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)
Caterpillar food plant: Mainly pioneer Heather (Calluna vulgaris) but also Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix) and Bell Heather (E. cinerea)
Site: Thurstaston Common Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Wirral
Cheshire status: Recorded locally on heathlands in the county during the nineteenth century, but the last colony died out in the 1920’s. Re-introduced at one site on the Wirral in 1994, with the colony surviving until 2004. Single-brooded flying from late June to early August.
Resources
- Learn about the Silver-studded Blue and its relationship with ants in photographs or
- Film showing the Silver-studded Blue at Thurstaston in 2002 (749k - requires Windows Media Player - Copyright © Dream Catcher Films MMIV)
- Report on the current status of the Silver-studded Blue at Thurstaston Common (2003)
- The proposal for re-introduction of the Silver-studded Blue at Thurstaston Common (1994)
- Report on the re-introduction of the Silver-studded Blue at Thurstaston Common (1994)
More information on external web sites
- National information on the Silver-studded Blue (Butterfly Conservation)
- Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for the Silver-studded Blue in the UK (Butterfly Conservation)
- Local BAP for the Silver-studded Blue (Cheshire Biodiversity)
- Information about Thurstaston Common LNR (Wirral Council)
Photographs on BioImages.org.uk
- Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
- Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix)
- Bell Heather (Erica cinerea)
- Silver-studded Blue (Plebeius argus)
- Common Black Ant (Lasius niger)
Please Note
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