Small Blue

Cupido minimus

Gormán Beag [IRL]

Argus frêle [F]

Zwergbläuling [D]

$Distribution Map (dark areas indicate presence) and Flight Times of this species - \nNB See General Information page for accuracy information$

photo

Coastal dunes, Limestone grasslands, Quarries.

Quite rare. Found only in a few regions.

Kidney vetch.

20-28mm (0.79 inches)
[Small Tortoiseshell 50mm]

This is the smallest Irish butterfly (some are only 20mm in wingspan).
The wings are dark brown with the undersides somewhat similar to those of the Holly Blue.
It is the rarest of the Blues, found only in a few scattered colonies in Ireland.