![Female holly blue butterfly feeding on hogweed](/media/1493/holly-blue-butterfly-female-feeding-on-hogweed-alamy-jt6wcc-ian-redding.jpg?center=0.46808510638297873,0.404&mode=crop&heightratio=0.5622047244094488188976377953&width=647&rnd=132078459960000000)
Credit: Ian Redding / Alamy Stock Photo
What do holly blue butterflies eat?
Caterpillars: feed on the flower buds of holly and ivy. The larvae bore into the side of the bud and eat the contents.
Adults: feed on nectar, tree sap and juice from rotting fruit and carrion.