Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)
(Common Blue)

Taxonomic hierarchy:
SpeciesPolyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
GenusPolyommatus (a genus of blue butterflies)
TribePolyommatini (a tribe of blue butterflies)
SubfamilyPOLYOMMATINAE (blue butterflies)
FamilyLYCAENIDAE (blues, coppers and hairstreaks)
SuperfamilyPAPILIONOIDEA (butterflies)
SuborderGLOSSATA (a suborder of moths)
OrderLEPIDOPTERA (butterflies and moths)
Division Endopterygota (bees, beetles, flies, moths and other insects with wings developing internally)
InfraclassNeoptera (bees, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other advanced insects)
SubclassPTERYGOTA (bees, beetles, dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, moths and other winged insects)
ClassINSECTA (true insects)
SubphylumHEXAPODA (insects and other 6-legged organisms)
PhylumARTHROPODA (arthropods)
SuperphylumECDYSOZOA (skin shedders)
CladeBilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals)
SubkingdomEUMETAZOA (metazoans)
KingdomANIMALIA (animals)
DomainEukaryota (eukaryotes)
LifeBIOTA (living things)
Records of Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue) :
1: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
7 Jun 2015 OSGR: ST81 50° 60’ N, 2° 10’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
Male
Image 1: Male - wings apart - dorsal view
2: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
16 Aug 2014 OSGR: ST91 50° 50’ N, 2° 0’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
female
Image 1: Female - wings closed - black backgroundImage 2: Female - wings closed - grey backgroundImage 3: Female - wings closed - grey background (2)Image 4: Female - wings half open - dorsal viewImage 5: Female - wings half open - dorsal view (2)Image 6: Female - wings half open - dorsal view (3)
3: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
27 Jul 2014 OSGR: SY67 50° 30’ N, 2° 30’ W Vice County: Dorset (VC 9) England
Female, settled down for the night, at dusk
Image 1: Female - at rest - lateral viewImage 2: Female - at rest - lateral view (2)Image 3: Female - at rest - lateral view (3)
4: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
9 May 2011 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: North Hants (VC 12) England
mating pair
Image 1: Mating pair - close-upImage 2: Mating pair - close-up (2)
5: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
31 May 2004 OSGR: SU56 51° 20’ N, 1° 20’ W Vice County: Berks (VC 22) England
at flowers of Marsh Thistle
Image 1: Male - lateral view - at Marsh ThistleImage 2: Male - lateral view - at Marsh Thistle (2)
6: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue) IDENTIFICATION UNCERTAIN
9 Aug 1975 OSGR: SU94 51° 10’ N, 0° 40’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
on Heather on heathland
Image 1: Under side - wings together - enlarged
7: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
19 Jun 1971 OSGR: TG10 52° 40’ N, 1° 10’ E Vice County: East Norfolk (VC 27) England
Male
Image 1: Male - under side - wings together - enlarged
8: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
2 Aug 1970 OSGR: TQ15 51° 20’ N, 0° 20’ W Vice County: Surrey (VC 17) England
Male and female
Image 1: Female - front view - wings apart - enlargedImage 2: Female - upper side - wings apart - enlargedImage 3: Male - upper side - wings apart - enlarged
9: Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
25 Jun 1970 OSGR: TG10 52° 40’ N, 1° 10’ E Vice County: East Norfolk (VC 27) England
Courting on Cocksfoot grass head
Image 1: Courting - enlarged

Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue) may be included in identification literature listed under the following higher taxa:

NBNNBN (data.nbn.org.uk) has a distribution map for Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
BioInfoBioInfo (www.bioinfo.org.uk) has 1 host/parasite/foodplant and/or other relationships for Polyommatus icarus (Common Blue)
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