This beautiful butterfly is one of the most characteristic species of southern chalk downland, where it flies low over short-grazed turf. The butterfly is about the same size of the 'Common Blue' butterfly which it can easily be confused with. The males have brilliant sky-blue wings, while the females are brown and far less conspicuous. They can be identified by the appearance of distinctive black lines that enter or cross the white fringes to the wings, which appear on both sexes. 

Despite its restricted distribution, the butterfly can be seen in many hundreds on good sites. It has undergone a major decline through its entire range, but has recently re-expanded in some regions. 

These insects was seen in the channel islands and were locally abundant. Due to the hot sunny conditions they were all very active and did not settle for their photos for very long. However after much chasing around and lying fully prone on the grass I managed to take a few photographs with both wings open and closed. 

The female butterfly's right wing tip is missing which was probably caused by a bird trying to catch it - a lucky escape!

Canon 30D Vivitar 100mm macro lens.