Adonis blue males are eye-catching, electric-blue butterflies, though the females are a more drab brown. They are found on the short-grazed turf of Europe's flower-rich grasslands and southern England represents the northern extent of their range. Here the Adonis blues lay their eggs singly underneath the leaves of the horseshoe vetch. They have a special relationship with red and black ants who protect the larvae from predation, even burying them at night. In return, the ants are attracted to the larval 'honey glands'. With two broods a year there are two adult flight periods: May to June and July to August.

How to identify common garden butterflies.

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