2007 Magazine Version 05.indd - Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire

Holly Blue & Other Observations at Highlands in 2005
by Ray Healey
It was on 24th April at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon when my first Holly Blues of the
year appeared in my garden. I counted seven individuals.
Onto the Japanese Larch went the first, settling about fifteen feet up and stayed at this
height for about three hours. The second and third, after a short skirmish with each
other, headed for a Cupressus and again settled around the fifteen feet level just like
the first Holly Blue. The fourth headed for a Redwood hedge and settled at about five
feet up. The foliage of this particular variety has the resin scent of pineapple if rubbed.
The fifth made for a Cupressus hedge and the sixth and seventh headed for other
Redwoods, again with the scent of pineapple.
They continued to drink the
honeydew, rather than nectar,
on these plants until 1st of May.
On that day the first Holly flowers
started to bud burst so this then
became their main nectar source.
Nearby Forget-me-nots were also
being used for additional nectar.
At this stage I decided to
concentrate on one female, which
was at the best height to film.
First it was on the Holly, and then
flew to a nearby bush of Mahonia,
then visited the Forget-me-nots,
Above: Holly Blue
decided to go back to the Mahonia
and finally fluttered back to the Holly. This fluttering from one plant to the other went on
for about two hours. All three plants are within an area of about 4sq metres.
The female as well as looking for nectar was obviously searching flower buds for eggs
laying. The base of Holly buds is the favourite in spring, but they do use other flower
buds and less often leaf-buds. Holly Blues usually have two generations each year and
prefer to lay their eggs on Holly in spring and Ivy in the summer.
Over the last five years, in my garden, I have recorded the first sightings of the spring
Holly Blues between 16th April to 24th April.
Other observations in 2005
On 17th August, for the first time, I noticed a Common Blue egg laying on White Clover.
It then went to egg lay on Plantain. For the first time, since recording, no Painted
Ladies were seen in my garden. But the Red Admirals were very friendly and whilst
filming one day one actually landed on my head. On another day, whilst filming in my
shorts, one took a fancy to my knobbly knees so I just had to film it.
Photograph © Keith Warmington 2007
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Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire Branch Magazine 2007