| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Polyommatinae |
| Genus: | Celastrina |
| Species: | argiolus |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Holly Blue is easily identified in early spring, as it emerges well before other blue butterflies. It tends to fly high around bushes and trees, whereas other grassland blues usually stay near ground level. It is much the commonest blue found in parks and gardens where it congregates around Holly (in spring) and Ivy (in late summer).
| #Records | #Individuals | Earliest Record | Latest Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Records | 62,443 | 104,846 | 08/01/2019 | 27/12/2020 |
| 2023 | 7,168 | 13,013 | 27/3/2023 | 15/11/2023 |
| Site | Date | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest | Bitterne | 27/3/2023 | 1 |
| Latest | Woolston | 15/11/2023 | 2 |
| Max Count | Beacon Hill | 16/5/2023 | 50 |
