Brown Argus
Aricia agestisBrown Argus are small, smart-looking butterflies that flit low over warm grasslands, often seen basking with chocolate-brown wings open to reveal neat orange spots along the edges. While typically found on chalk and limestone grasslands, they also thrive in more unexpected habitats like disused railway lines and roadside verges.
Small and understated, with a bold edge
The Brown Argus is predominantly, well, brown, but particularly keen to show you the orange spots that adorn the outer edge of its wings. And so it can often be found basking with them on full display.
Be careful, though, not to confuse them with the female of the Common Blue, which can only really be told apart by the tinge of blue at the base of their wings.
Although mostly found on chalk and limestone grasslands, this bold little butterfly doesn’t mind living life on the margins and will also make their home on disused railway lines, road verges and other sites with disturbed soil.
Most butterflies have one or two broods a year, but the Brown Argus can have multiple broods in a single summer.
They’re plentiful across England, with some small bursts on the coastline of Wales. But if you spot one in Scotland, it’s likely the closely related Northern Brown Argus instead.
Vibes
Each butterfly is scored out of 100 across a set of traits, from how bold and visible it is to how far it travels or how particular it is about where it lives. These scores compare each species with the other butterflies in Britain, helping you see their differences at a glance. Here’s what makes the Brown Argus special.
Bright colours, bold patterns, and a love of the spotlight. Some butterflies just can’t help showing off.
Fast, or throwing some seriously impressive moves, these butterflies are in a flutter.
Always on guard, ready to hide or defend - these butterflies have self-preservation down to an art.
It’s ok to be a little… well, weird. These butterflies have been certified with the freak factor.
Like Goldilocks, everything has to be just right for these perfectionists.
Hard to spot and even harder to forget, these butterflies are a true one of a kind.
Bold, curious, and ready to explore, these brave butterflies live for the thrill and aren’t afraid to travel.
Weather-resistant, battle-hardened, and built to survive, these butterflies know how to take it on the wing.
Brown Argus can have multiple broods each summer, so their numbers can build quickly in the right conditions.
Test your knowledge
What is the key feature that helps distinguish a Brown Argus from a female Common Blue?Brown Argus lack a patch of blue at the wing base that is often visible in female Common Blues, making this a key clue to help you identify this butterfly.
Does the Brown Argus get your vote?