Mating pair of chalkhill blue butterflies
The chalkhill blue (Lysandra coridon) is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is a small butterfly that can be found throughout the Palearctic realm, where it occurs primarily in grasslands rich in chalk. Males are a pale blue colour, while females are dark brown; both have chequered fringes around their wings. This mating pair of chalkhill blues was photographed at Aston Rowant National Nature Reserve in Oxfordshire, England. The species breeds and produces a new generation only once per year.Photograph credit: Charles J. Sharp