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Sloe

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

Blackthorn, a Native Shrub in Hedgerows across Britain

 

Blackthorn is a large common deciduous shrub or tree, with long sharp thorns, often found growing in established native hedgerows. Given the space and left to naturally grow it can sometimes reach heights up to, 5 meters tall.

Where does it grow?

Blackthorn is often found growing in hedgerows along side other deciduous shrub or trees like Hawthorn, Buckthorn, Field Maple, Elder, Dogwood, Crab Apple and Wild Cherry.

This type of native or mixed hedgerow is often planted along road sides, field edges, and railway tracks, and used to mark boundaries, keep in farm animals or create natural windbreaks.

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Shrub Flowering in Native Hedgerow

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Shrub Flowering in Native Hedgerow

Information

  • Name: Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
  • Type: Hardy, Deciduous shrub
  • Flowring: March to April
  • Blossom Colour: White
  • Fruit: Sloe
  • Photographs
  • Top Right: Blackthorn shrub in hedgerow flowering April 2010
  • Right: Sloes on Blackthorn 1st August 2010
  • Caterpillar food plant: Black Hairstreak (Strymondia Pruni), Black Veined White, Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) native shrub in flower

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) native shrub in flower

Bunches of white petalled flowers or blossom appear, March – April before the leaves, making it stand out, from the other native hedgerow shrubs like the Hawthorn. The blossom attracts Butterflies, Bees and many other early spring insects.

The fruit of the Blackthorn is the sloe, it is similar to a small Black- Purple plum or Damson, with a blue powdery bloom. Sloes are often used to make jams and preserves, best picked after the first frost, said to sweeten and soften the fruit.

Sloes on Native Blackthorn Shrub

Sloes on Native Blackthorn Shrub

© Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2024