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Hairstreak

Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)

 

A small rare butterfly, the Brown Hairstreak spends most of its time fluttering round high in the tree tops of a chosen Ash tree, often referred to as the Master Tree.

Most active on warm sunny days, both the male and female Butterflies may occasionally come down lower to nectar on bramble or other flowers, although the female is the most likely the one to seen close up, as she flies around to find a suitable site to lay her eggs.

Upper-wings are brown with orange patches on the fore-wings, under-wings orange/brown with two white lines or streaks.

Brown Hairstreak Butterfly female with wings open

Brown Hairstreak – female with wings open © Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2014

Population Status

The Brown Hairstreak is a priority species for conservation, due to continued habitat loss. The use of mechanical hedge cutting or flailing in late summer and Autumn damages hedgerows making them unsuitable for the female butterfly to lay her eggs, also cutting away previously laid eggs that will hatch in the following spring.

Brown Hairstreak on Blackthorn

Brown Hairstreak on Blackthorn © Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2014

Quick Info

  • Family Group: Blues (Lycaenidae).
  • Habitat: Found along the edges or in open areas of woodland or hedgerows in areas where Blackthorn or sloe is found growing in abundance.
  • When: July to October.
  • Where: Localised mainly in Southern and Central England.
  • Size: Around 40mm.
  • Larval Food Plant: Only Blackthorn (prunus spinosa) and other prunus species.
  • Adult Nectar Plant: Aphid Honey dew found on Ash trees, Bramble
  • Photographed: 8th September 2012, Chambers Farm Wood, Lincolnshire
© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024

Green Hairstreak Butterfly (Callophrys rubi)

 

A small green butterfly, widespread and distributed across most areas of the UK, it’s colouration and fast flight make the Green Hairstreak well camouflaged, and often difficult to spot, even in areas where it is locally found and numbers are known to be high.

Seen from April-June, Green Hairstreak butterflies are mostly only active, and give away their whereabouts during periods of warm sunshine. They may be found in a wide range of habitats such as, woodland clearings, meadows, heaths and on hillsides, forming localised colonies that often vary greatly in numbers.

On emerging the Butterflies will often seek a nectar source on plants and shrubs such as, Hawthorn, buttercups, Brambles, Crab-apple, Common-rock Rose, Gorse, Birds-foot Trefoil, Dogwood and Buckthorn and numerous others.

Green Hairstreak laying eggs on birds-foot trefoil

Green Hairstreak laying eggs on Birds-foot Trefoil

Green Hairstreak Butterfly (Callophrys rubi) resting on hawthorn shrub

Green Hairstreak Butterfly (Callophrys rubi) resting on hawthorn shrub

Quick Info

  • Name: Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
  • Family Group: Lycaenidae – Blues,Hairstreaks.
  • Where: Throughout the UK.
  • Habitat: Edges of Woodland, Hedgerows, Heaths, Moorland
  • When: Flying in largest numbers from May to early June.
  • Size: Wingspan around 32mm.
  • Larval Food Plant: Common Rock Rose (Halianthemum nummularium), Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatas)
  • Adult Nectar Plant: Hawthorn, Bramble, Wild Privet, Dog Rose, Crab-apple,Broom
  • Population Status:
  • Photographed: 19th April 2011, Barnack Hills and Holes NNR. Left-25th May 2014
© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024

Black Hairstreak (Strymondia Pruni)

 

about

A small brown butterfly, with a defined white line, black spotted markings, and an orange band edged with a white fringe, on the under-wings.

Habitat

Like all Hairstreak Butterflies the Black Hairstreak prefers a sunny position more often than not above head height. Occasionally though they may be seen descending to nectar on bramble or other seasonal blossom.

The upper wings are rarely seen except in flight.

The Black Hairstreak is quite similar in appearance to White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)e

Black Hairstreak (Strymondia Pruni) on Bramble flowers - Glapthorn Cow Pasture.

Black Hairstreak (Strymondia Pruni) on Bramble Flowers

Quick Info

  • Family Group: Lycaenidae (Blues).
  • Where: A narrow belt of mature woodland areas, between Oxford and Peterborough.
  • Habitat: Mature blackthorn thickets in sheltered woodland clearings and rides.
  • When: Flying in largest numbers from mid June to early July.
  • Size: Wingspan around 35mm.
  • Larval Food Plant: Leaf buds and mature leaves of Blackthorn (prunus spinosa)
  • Adult Nectar Plant: Bramble, Wild Privet, Dog Rose.
  • Population Status:
  • Photographed: 14th June 2011, Glapthorn Cow Pasture.
© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024
 

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)

 

Description

A small brown butterfly, with a thin black line followed by an orange band and white lines, that form the letter W on the hind under-wing.

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album) on Marjoram

White-letter Hairstreak on Marjoram

Information

  • Family Group: Lycaenidae (Blues).
  • Where: Through-out Southern and Central England.
  • Habitat: Woodland rides and hedgerows with Elm trees.
  • Family Group: Lycaenidae (Blues).
  • When: Flying where found in largest numbers from July – August.
  • Size: 25-36mm.
  • Larval Food Plant: The blossom and early buds of Elm trees.
  • Adult nectar Plants: When not in tree tops adults may nectar on Bramble Flowers, Wild Marjoram (Origarnum vulgare), Thistles.
  • Population Status: Due to loss of habitat and falling numbers the White-letter Hairstreak is a priority species for conservation.
  • Photographed: 15th July (Macro).
© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024