Brown Argus

The Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) is a delightful butterfly from the Lycaenidae family, commonly found throughout the Palearctic region, spanning from northern Jutland to Siberia and Tian Shan. This butterfly encompasses several subspecies, each exhibiting distinct characteristics.

Visually, the Brown Argus is quite distinctive. Its upper wings are brown, adorned with orange spots along the edges. The underside is a mix of grey and brown, sprinkled with black spots encircled in white, and a line of orange spots along the border. These patterns, particularly the black spots, make it easy to distinguish the Brown Argus from other butterflies.

In Great Britain, the Brown Argus inhabits various landscapes, including chalk downlands, woodland clearings, coastal grasslands, and heathland. They have a particular preference for plants such as common rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium), dove's-foot cranesbill (Geranium molle), and common stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium). The females lay their eggs singly on the underside of leaves. When the larvae hatch, they are green with pale side lines and are often attended by ants.

In southern Great Britain, the Brown Argus typically has two broods per year, with adults flying in May and June, and then again from late July to mid-September. In the north, they are single-brooded, with adults emerging in June and July.

It is worth noting that the life cycle, appearance, and behavior of the Brown Argus in Great Britain might differ from those in other parts of its range. Interestingly, this butterfly has been expanding its territory in recent years, now found in southeast England, the Midlands, Wales, and even as far north as Yorkshire. Ongoing genetic research aims to clarify the differences between the Brown Argus and the Northern Brown Argus (Aricia artaxerxes) in the northern colonies, as they were often mistaken for one another in the past.