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Brown Argus · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Brown Argus

Aricia agestis

Not yet photographed by the community

Small brown butterfly with orange spots; looks like a female blue.

Species Profile

Amber List; declining in northern parts of its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation, though stable in core southern populations.

Lifespan: 2–4 weeks as an adult butterfly; larvae develop over several weeks depending on temperature and food availability
Size & Weight: wingspan 28–34 mm
Habitat: Sunny, sheltered grassland and scrubland, particularly on chalk and limestone downland with abundant bird's-foot trefoil and other low-growing legumes.
UK Distribution: Resident in southern and central England, with populations concentrated in the Midlands, southern counties, and scattered locations northward; absent from much of Scotland, Wales, and northern England. Produces multiple generations per year with peak flight periods in spring and late summer.
Diet: Larvae feed exclusively on bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and related legume species; adults feed on nectar from small flowers and occasionally on rotting fruit.
Predators: Small birds, particularly warblers and wrens; spiders; parasitoid wasps and flies attack larvae and pupae.
Mating Season: April to September (multiple broods)
Breeding: Females lay eggs singly on or near food plants; larvae develop through four instars; two to three broods per year in the UK, with some populations producing a fourth partial brood in warm years.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 22 June 2026

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