A shimmer of blue, something highly likely in case of a chrysalis that belongs to a Blue and is about to hatch. However, with Blue’s the determination of the species is often tricky. Here’s just another case where I was completely wrong until the very end.
Earlier this year I found two caterpillars of Blues. I expected the caterpillars to be of the Mazarine Blue (Plebeius semiargus). But what eventually hatched was a female Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus). In this case I luckily took one of the caterpillars home. This specifically to be able to get confirmation on the species. Unfortunately, I only took one of the larvae. To be absolutely sure both were the same species I’d have had to raise each of them.
Chrysalis of the Common Blue
Chrysalis of the Common Blue
Female Common Blue after hatching
