Small Blue

After reading Dan Danahar's post on the Sussex Butterflies website on June 5th 2011, I decided to visit the Chalk pit at Hollingbury Industrial Park to see if I could see the Small Blue. Although the numbers were much lower than Dan had reported earlier this month, I saw at least 10 Small Blues in the fenced off Nature Reserve (both sides of path) plus a good selection of other species including: 3 Large Skipper, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 White Sp., and most surprising of all at least 6 Marbled Whites (with at least 1 female) feeding on the Knapweed Centaurea scabiosa. I also noted that a few individuals had damaged wings with one in particular, having almost all of one wing missing. Of note, I also observed one Small Blue ovipositing on a Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria. Thanks Dan!

 Small Blue Cupido minimus

 

Marbled White Melanargia galathea with damaged forewing