Holly Blue (<i>Celastrina argiolus</i>)

The Holly Blue is widespread, although the populations are always small. This small butterfly is very often seen in parks and gardens, as well as at woodland edges, and in bushy places. The eggs are laid on the calyx or stem of the flowerbuds or on the ripe fruits of various sorts of plants, including Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Ivy (Hedera helix), Spindle-tree (Euonymus europaeus), Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), brambles (Rubus spp.) and heathers (Calluna vulgaris and Erica spp.). At first, the caterpillars feed on the buds and fruits of the foodplant, only later eating leaves. They are attended by ants of different genera. The Holly Blue has two broods a year, and hibernates in the pupal stage.

Family	Lycaenidae
Subfamily	Polyommatinae
Genus	Celastrina
Species	argiolus
Authority	(Linnaeus, 1758)
English Name	Holly Blue

European Red List 2010	Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 Red List 2010	Least Concern (LC)
European Red List 2025	Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 Red List 2025	Least Concern (LC)
Habitats Directive
Bern Convention
CITES

#	Order	Family	Genus	Species	Vernacular Name
1	Apiales	Araliaceae	Hedera	helix	Common Ivy
2	Aquifoliales	Aquifoliaceae	Ilex	aquifolium	Holly
3	Caryophyllales	Tamaricaceae	Tamarix	gallica	Tamarisk
4	Caryophyllales	Tamaricaceae	Tamarix	hampeana
5	Celastrales	Celastraceae	Euonymus	europaeus	Spindle
6	Celastrales	Celastraceae	Euonymus	latifolius	Large-leaved Spindle
7	Cornales	Cornaceae	Cornus		Dogwoods
8	Cornales	Cornaceae	Cornus	sanguinea	Dogwood
9	Dipsacales	Caprifoliaceae	Symphoricarpos		Snowberries
10	Dipsacales	Viburnaceae	Viburnum	tinus	Laurustinus
11	Ericales	Ericaceae	Calluna	vulgaris	Heather
12	Ericales	Ericaceae	Vaccinium	myrtillus	Bilberry
13	Ericales	Ericaceae	Vaccinium	uliginosum	Bog Bilberry
14	Escalloniales	Escalloniaceae	Escallonia	Mutis
15	Fabales	Fabaceae	Amorpha	fruticosa
16	Fabales	Fabaceae	Astragalus	glycyphyllos	Wild Liquorice
17	Fabales	Fabaceae	Colutea	arborescens	Bladder-senna
18	Fabales	Fabaceae	Coronilla	juncea
19	Fabales	Fabaceae	Genista	fasselata ssp. crudelis
20	Fabales	Fabaceae	Genista	florida
21	Fabales	Fabaceae	Genista	pilosa	Hairy Greenweed
22	Fabales	Fabaceae	Genista	tinctoria	Dyer's Greenweed
23	Fabales	Fabaceae	Lathyrus	pratensis	Meadow Vetchling
24	Fabales	Fabaceae	Lotus		Bird's-foot-trefoils
25	Fabales	Fabaceae	Lotus	dorycnium
26	Fabales	Fabaceae	Lotus	pedunculatus ssp. pedunculatus
27	Fabales	Fabaceae	Medicago	sativa	Lucerne (see ssp.)
28	Fabales	Fabaceae	Melilotus	albus	White Melilot
29	Fabales	Fabaceae	Robinia	pseudoacacia	False-acacia
30	Fabales	Fabaceae	Spartium	junceum	Spanish Broom
31	Fabales	Fabaceae	Ulex		Gorses
32	Fabales	Fabaceae	Ulex	europaeus	Gorse
33	Fabales	Fabaceae	Vicia	villosa	Fodder Vetch
34	Lamiales	Oleaceae	Ligustrum	vulgare	Wild Privet
35	Lamiales	Oleaceae	Syringa		Lilac
36	Myrtales	Lythraceae	Lythrum	salicaria	Purple-loosestrife
37	Ranunculales	Ranunculaceae	Clematis	vitalba	Traveller's-joy
38	Rosales	Cannabaceae	Humulus	lupulus	Hop
39	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	Frangula	alnus	Alder Buckthorn
40	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	Paliurus	spina-christi
41	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	Rhamnus	alaternus	Mediterranean Buckthorn
42	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	Rhamnus	cathartica	Buckthorn
43	Rosales	Rhamnaceae	Rhamnus	lycioides
44	Rosales	Rosaceae	Filipendula	ulmaria	Meadowsweet
45	Rosales	Rosaceae	Rubus		Brambles
46	Rosales	Rosaceae	Rubus		Brambles
47	Rosales	Rosaceae	Rubus	caesius
48	Rosales	Rosaceae	Rubus	canescens
49	Rosales	Rosaceae	Rubus	fruticosus	Bramble (agg.)
50	Rosales	Rosaceae	Rubus	ulmifolius
51	Sapindales	Anacardiaceae	Pistacia	x saportae
52	Sapindales	Anacardiaceae	Pistacia	lentiscus

Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Description

Distribution

Larval Foodplants