European Common Blue (Polyommattus icarus)
A small butterfly species with intense blue color on the back of the wings and beautiful pattern on the lower side of the wings, It is an European species introduced in the Mirabel Airport region and now frequently observed in Montreal and surrounding area.
| 🇫🇷 | Argus bleu |
| 🇩🇪 | Hauhechel-Bläuling |
| 🇲🇽 | Mariposa ícaro |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae |
How to Identify
There are similar species with the intense blue color of the wing, endemic to the region. I identify this species based on the pattern of black and orange spots on the underside of the wings.
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Characteristics
| Length | 2-3cm |
| Weight | 0.2-0.3g |
| Wingspan | 3-4cm |
Where and When to Spot
I have been able to spot this species in different parks in Montreal. Usually late summer, early autumn.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belvédère Outremont | - | x | - | - |
| Jardin Botanique de Montréal | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Angrignon | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Michel-Chartrand | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.