| The Nature of Dorset

Today's 'Nature Notes'

The Nature of Dorset ... as I see it! You learn something new everyday, so the saying goes, so here is your chance to learn something new everyday with me, Peter Orchard. When I am out in the Dorset countryside I am rarely without my camera and, when I get home, I like to do some research on the background to what I have been able to photograph. Once a day I will try and post a new photo on here with some chat about it. This is partly a diary and partly a personal view of wildlife in Dorset, hence "the nature of Dorset as I see it." Click on any species name to see more detail, extra photos where I have them, a distribution map and my sightings.

Species Name (Click for more details) :	Adonis Blue
Scientific Name :	Lysandra bellargus
Photograph :
Peter Says :	When you see so many Adonis Blue out on the Dorset cliffs and downs it is hard to believe this is a nationally scarce species. At times during the year they are more numerous than the Common Blue. When we first moved here to Dorset in 2006 I was worried that I would not notice the difference between the two. Actually, once you have seen the brilliant blue of the Adonis you will not mistake the species thereafter. I don't think the camera really does the colour justice. I have taken many photos of the Adonis and none really seem to truly reflect the stunning colour. What this photo does show however, is that on the Adonis the black veins in the wing run through the white edge, the only 'blue' that this occurs on. The Adonis is also larger than the Common Blue. There are two broods each year, one in the spring, usually May and another in August. There are masses of Horseshoe Vetch on the cliffs here and as that is the sole food plant of the young Adonis larvae so where there is Horseshoe Vetch then you may find Adonis Blue.