Scientific name: Aricia artaxerxes Brown with row of orange
spots on outer wing edges, sometimes with white spot on
forewing. This small butterfly has a silvery appearance as it
flies low to the ground over sheltered flowery grasslands. In
Britain and mainland Europe, the pattern of wing spots is highly
variable and many local races (and sub-species) have been
described. In Scotland, most individuals are of the race
artaxerxes and have a characteristic white spot in the middle of
the forewing (see photo). In northern England, this spot is
generally dark brown or black. Similar to Brown Argus but
differentiated by orange spots. The butterfly occurs mainly as
small, scattered colonies and has declined in northern England.
Size and Family - Family – Blue - Small Sized - Wing Span Range
(male to female) - 29mm - Listed as a Section 41 species of
principal importance under the NERC act in England - Protected
in Scotland under the Nature Conservation act - UK BAP status:
Priority Species - Butterfly Conservation: H