Holly Blue

I have previously found in other years, that Blues flutter about in our garden, often in pairs dancing in the sky, but seldom settle. Today however was different. There were a pair feeding on the damp soil of the vegetable plot and they were quite still for a long time whilst I observed them.

Holly Blues feed on wet soil, carrion and tree sap. If you look carefully you can see the proboscis of this one touching the soil.

The caterpillars favour the buds, flowers and fruits of holly and ivy, and whilst the first brood will mature, the second brood will hibernate as a chrysalis.

The Blues enlivened a day of garden tasks and we did have another good bike ride too.