EN · common blue butterfly
DE · Hauhechel-Bläuling
LV · parastais zilenītis
PL · modraszek ikar
The larval foodplants are various members of the
Fabaceae. They include various vetches (
Vicia spp), Clovers (
Trifolium spp), Medicks (
Medicago spp) and most commonly Bird's-foot-trefoil (
Lotus corniculatus).
Common Blues overwinter in their half-grown larval state. The pale green caterpillar have yellow stripes; they produce a honeydew-like liquid on which ants feed. To protect their food suppliers the ants in turn ward off predators that might otherwise eat the caterpillars.