Wingspan: 40–55 mm
Flight period of the butterflies: in two, partially overlapping generations from mid-May to October
Larval host plants: species of the genus Lonicera (Lonicera)
The Blue Admiral (Limenitis reducta) has a wing pattern similar to the Small Flutterer (L. camilla), but the upper side of the wings in the Blue Admiral is black-blue. Between the outer edge of the wings and the series of large white spots that break up the butterfly's silhouette there is a row of black spots. There is usually also a light blue dot. The underside of the wings is basically reddish-brown. Between the outer edge of the wings and the continuous series of large white spots there is only one row of black spots, whereas the Small Flutterer has black spots in two rows. The female and the male are equally colored.
The Blue Admiral is a distinctly heat-loving species. It is widely distributed only in the southwestern part of Slovenia, although it is found here and there throughout Slovenia. It is not as strongly tied to forest space as the other species of this genus that also live here, hence we will observe it most often on sun-exposed forest edges, somewhat overgrown meadows, and rocky or shrub-covered slopes. It prefers lowlands, and on warm south-facing locations we can find it a little above 1000 m above sea level.
Males are territorial and often defend their territory from the top of a shrub. As energetic fliers they expend a lot of energy, so adult individuals of both sexes like to visit the flowers of nectar-rich plants, for example elder.
In Slovenia the Blue Admiral is not endangered, as its habitat is even increasing due to the overgrowth of grassy areas with shrubs and trees.
