Common Blue - female imago MIA
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 11:48 am
(Appreciate that this could've gone in the Species-Specific forum for Polyommatus Icarus...)
Site: North end of Southampton Common, a patch of wildflower meadow, approx. 70m. x 70m. Copious Bird's Foot Trefoil. The area is peppered with small anthills![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Over the past decade or so, there has been a reasonably stable, if small, population of Common Blue. (Along with Small Copper - very small numbers; Cinnabar moth - there's plenty of Common Ragwort; Small Skipper.)
It's probably what would be described as a meta-population. I rarely see more than 4 or 5 Males at the same instant.
This year, Males first appeared around 1st June. I have yet to see a female, having looked very carefully - in bright sunlight; in cloud cover; early & late [when I can find males roosting]). The males are now looking rather tatty, and numbers are down to a few. So, I'm assuming this brood is nearing the end of it's flight period.
It's too early for Small Skipper, I appreciate; Cinnabar also a bit early - I saw one today, but not seen the large numbers of cats I would expect. Small Copper very low numbers - an occasional singleton.
So my question is whether there could be any possible reason for the extreme disparity in male:female numbers of Common Blue? I did find this paper, but I don't think it would explain the complete dearth of females... https://www.jstor.org/stable/4220098
The only other factor I can think of is that we're seeing many more rooks in this area of the Common, than in past times. They are ever-present in the meadow, methodically pecking at the entire area, hoovering-up anything edible. But, can't see why that would affect females specifically.
I guess the veracity of what I've observed will be evident in the (lack of) 2nd brood. Maybe I'm just becoming even more myopic that I thought I was![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
BR, Jon
P.S. Females at this site have always been very brown - rarely seen a 'blue' female. Confident that I'm not mistaking males for females.
Site: North end of Southampton Common, a patch of wildflower meadow, approx. 70m. x 70m. Copious Bird's Foot Trefoil. The area is peppered with small anthills
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Over the past decade or so, there has been a reasonably stable, if small, population of Common Blue. (Along with Small Copper - very small numbers; Cinnabar moth - there's plenty of Common Ragwort; Small Skipper.)
It's probably what would be described as a meta-population. I rarely see more than 4 or 5 Males at the same instant.
This year, Males first appeared around 1st June. I have yet to see a female, having looked very carefully - in bright sunlight; in cloud cover; early & late [when I can find males roosting]). The males are now looking rather tatty, and numbers are down to a few. So, I'm assuming this brood is nearing the end of it's flight period.
It's too early for Small Skipper, I appreciate; Cinnabar also a bit early - I saw one today, but not seen the large numbers of cats I would expect. Small Copper very low numbers - an occasional singleton.
So my question is whether there could be any possible reason for the extreme disparity in male:female numbers of Common Blue? I did find this paper, but I don't think it would explain the complete dearth of females... https://www.jstor.org/stable/4220098
The only other factor I can think of is that we're seeing many more rooks in this area of the Common, than in past times. They are ever-present in the meadow, methodically pecking at the entire area, hoovering-up anything edible. But, can't see why that would affect females specifically.
I guess the veracity of what I've observed will be evident in the (lack of) 2nd brood. Maybe I'm just becoming even more myopic that I thought I was
![Smile :-)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
BR, Jon
P.S. Females at this site have always been very brown - rarely seen a 'blue' female. Confident that I'm not mistaking males for females.