Brown Argus

Arica agestisPhotoWingspan: 29mm 

Description
The only member of the blue family which lacks any blue colouration. The upper wings are a uniform rich brown with clearly defined orange lunules, the upperwings are also edge with a narrow but bright white fringe. Care must be taken to separate this species (both sexes) from female Common Blue. 

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Flight Period
Double brooded: May – June & August – September 

Larval Food plants
Common Rock Rose (Helianthemum nummularium)
Common Stork’s-bill (Erodium cicutarium)
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle) 

Habitat Requirements
Chalk and Limestone Grassland 

Wiltshire Status
Resident, Frequent, local, Widespread 

Wiltshire Sites
Pewsey Down
Somerford Common
Salisbury Plain
Grovely Wood
Barbury Castle 

Earliest sightings 
Earliest county record 15th April 2007, Pewsey Down (Ray Jenkins & Patricia Froud) 

Latest Sighting
16th October 2003