Common blue butterfly survey
Help us find out more about the distribution of the Common Blue butterfly in the Yorkshire Dales by reporting sightings in a survey being run in partnership with the national wildlife organisation Butterfly Conservation (link opens in new window).
The information will help to build up a picture of locations and numbers so we can assess whether the butterflies need any help to survive.
The Common Blue is the most widespread blue butterfly in the UK and can be seen between July and September in the Yorkshire Dales, mainly on flower-rich, limestone grassland.
Males have distinctive conspicuous blue upper wings while the females are brown with a blue tinge, with orange markings on the wing edges. Both have a pale brown underwing with black-centred white spots.
Male Common Blues can be confused with Holly Blues, which are scarce in the Dales and usually found in parks and gardens. Female Common Blues can be confused with the Northern Brown Argus, but this is slightly smaller and has no blue on the upper wing.
To help people taking part, we have produced a leaflet containing more information about the Common Blue . A PDF version of this leaflet can be downloaded by clicking the link below. For a hard copy - which you can post back to the Authority free of charge - contact Hawes National Park Centre.
Alternatively, you can record your sightings on our online survey form or click the link at the top of this page.
Just make a note of the date, the place, including a grid reference, and the number seen.
Thank you for your help.
Image courtesy of Martin Warren
