hairstreak butterfly uk

long. long, i.e., when it is nine days old." There are five species of hairstreak butterfly in the UK. Adults feed on honeydew from aphids, while caterpillars feed exclusively on blackthorn. The following links provide additional information on this butterfly. The larva eats part of its eggshell on hatching before burrowing into a developing bud where it feeds fully-concealed. From July until mid-September, the golden wings of this butterfly soar atop the high branches while it feeds off aphid honeydew. However, the species can be found in any location where oaks occur, including lanes, parks, and other urban areas. Strongholds in Wales are in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. The female will crawl among the branches of the foodplant, feeling the branches for appropriate sites, when egg-laying. This small, fairly shy butterfly likes to spend most of its time perched on vegetation sunbathing. Eggs are laid singly (or less commonly, in groups of 2 or more), usually at the base of a plump oak bud, or cluster of buds, but can also be found on an adjoining twig and at various heights. In the UK, it is only found in mature woodland and hedgerows in the East Midlands, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Neozephyrus quercus, Neozephyrus quercus longicaudatus, and Neozephyrus quercus iberica. British Butterflies - Various. The pupa is not attached to anything; it simply lies on its ventral surface, a slight network cocoon spun on the surface of the ground at the base of the moss or other growth." "The female pupa measures 12.7 mm. UK distribution map. To the naked eye the egg appears pearly white. There is one generation each year. Females also spend their time on the master trees until the eggs have matured and they are ready to lay. This species does not travel or disperse over great distances. The hairs below the lateral ridge are simple, white and glassy. Butterfly species which can be confused with the White-letter Hairstreak during their flight period are the Holly Blue, Purple Hairstreak and Brown Hairstreak based on their similar size, here binoculars are a very helpful tool should they rest, to aid in identification. This butterfly is found across southern England and Wales, with scattered colonies further north. They are laid on branches that are sheltered and that receive full sunshine - such branches are therefore on the southern side of the tree. Locating and identify Elm will give you the opportunity to search for White-letter Hairstreaks. The male has a small pale spot on the forewings made up of scent scales. Skip to main content. The Oxford and Ampthill Clays are the only place in the UK where all five hairstreak butterflies naturally occur. The Oxford and Ampthill Clays are the only place in the UK where all five hairstreak butterflies naturally occur. Egg-laying sites are typically in sheltered areas at the edges of woodland or hedgerows where younger growth that is south-facing is favoured. The upper surface is sprinkled with minute curved white bristles, which are developed on the two last segments surrounding the spiracles into fine white hairs with long pectinations; above the dorsal yellow line is a fringe of whitish bristles curving backwards, and along the lateral ridge is a fringe of longer bristles projecting and curving slightly downwards; this fringe extends all round the larva. I've been craning my neck peering up at the tops of oak trees for years, because these little butterflies don't come down to nectar on flowers; they live on aphid honeydew on the leaves of the tree canopy. Any UK BAP status is taken from the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review). The colour is pale ochreous, with a medio-dorsal darker line and oblique lateral stripes. "The little larva eats a circular hole in the crown of the egg, the micropyle being the starting point, and the time occupied in eating its way out is about twenty-four hours. It also widens out over the last three posterior segments, the anal one being considerably flattened and slightly bifid like the first, with a dilated lateral ridge which is continuous the entire length of the body. Click here to see the distribution of this species together with site information overlaid. Adults feed primarily on Honeydew (N/A). The legs are olive-brown. The colour is white, and greenish-grey at the bottom of the cells." There has been a recent increase in records and an extension of the range of this butterfly especially in the English Midlands and south-west Scotland, even in urban areas (including London) which may be related to improvements in atmospheric quality. The butterfly primarily feeds on honeydew, but will occasionally feed from nectar sources such as Bramble. As with all butterflies in the Hairstreak group the shape of the wing makes it look as if it has a tiny tail. The black hairstreak is the UK's rarest hairstreak, but is more widespread in Europe. Killer . More than 500,000 images and video clips online, from tigers to turtles and elephants to sharks. The surface is rather glossy. Found around oak trees. The colour had then assumed a much duller appearance, having a lilac hue along the dorsal surface and below the oblique dusky marks a dull ochreous-olive hue prevailed. In the winter months, its distinctive, white pin-sized eggs can be seen on young blackthorn shoots. There is a peak at the end of July and early August, or later in Scotland. - Frohawk (1924), "The third moult on May 7th. Purple hairstreak (Neozephirus quercus) Auscape Photo Library. Before third moult it measures 9.5 mm. White-letter Hairstreak is a species solely reliant on Elm (Ulmus) trees as a foodplant to complete its life cycle. After the first moult, the larva lives outside the bud, under a loosely-spun silk web. "I was quite excited last week to finally track down some Purple Hairstreak butterflies in the Gardens. The segmental divisions form deep incisions, especially on the dorsal surface, where each segment is so much elevated that they form a medio-dorsal ridge of transparent projections resembling green glass. Eggs. The ground colour is pale ochreous, a dark medio-dorsal line terminating in a dark spot on the anal segment; it is bordered on either side by a creamy-white line which runs off obliquely from the third segment to the first, where it encircles a pale, shining green disc situated in the centre of the anterior segment; along the sub-dorsal region is a series of oblique whitish stripes, one on each segment, bordered below by rufous and above by ochreous. While at rest the legs and claspers are almost invisible, owing to the flatness of the ventral surface and the projecting lateral ridge. The Purple hairstreak is the only butterfly in the UK which is entirely reliant on the oak tree. All rights are reserved.Team Member Login, European Butterflies by Christopher Jonko, Learn About Butterflies by Adrian Hoskins, Lepidoptera and their ecology by Wolfgang Wagner, Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa. The female is particularly beautiful, with forewings that contain large orange patches, and was once considered to be a separate species known as the "Golden Hairstreak". The uppersides are a dark brown with a small orange spot in the bottom corner of the hindwing. The spiracles are of the same colour as the body and almost indistinguishable owing to the numerous lenticles scattered over the body." It is found at woodland edges and along hedgerows in southern England from late July until November. This web catches all sorts of debris and acts as camouflage as a result. high. It is believed that mice and shrews are responsible for eating large numbers of pupae in the wild. Consequently in a state of nature the hatching of the eggs and the expansion of the buds undoubtedly coincide. ), buckthorns (Frangula alnus and Rhamnus cathartica), Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) and thistles (Carduus spp. The brown hairstreak butterfly (Thecla betulae) is severely declining in the UK with a 49% reduction in occurrence between 1976 and 2014 (Fox et al. Hairstreak Introduction. The eggs are bun-shaped but, on closer examination, more closely resemble a sea urchin. There are also lenticles dispersed over the body, one above the spiracle and one below the lateral lobe on each segment. The main distinguishing feature is the row of black and white tapering spots above the orange band on the underside of the hindwings, and the white ‘ W ‘ is less pronounced. Groups of several individuals chasing one another are not an uncommon sight. Habitat Requirements. Before first moult it measures 2.5 mm. The primary larval foodplant is Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Eight days after the third and last moult, fully grown, it measures 15.9 mm. There is no medio-dorsal furrow down the body, and the sides are not flattened like the Lycaenidae larvae, but in structure and position of the hairs and in the general colouring there is a good deal of similarity between them. Before the second moult, about twenty days old, it measures 4.20 mm. It is also found in parts of Ireland, mainly between Wicklow and South Kerry. Both sexes are similar, and can be easily confused with the White-letter Hairstreak. Males have a purple upper wings whereas females have just a purple patch. - Frohawk (1924). This species is not found in the Isle of Man. Before first moult, and thirteen days old, it measures 2.5 mm. The uppersides are a dark brown with a small orange spot in the bottom corner of the hindwing. It is particularly active in bright sunshine and, in the right woodland in early evening, this species can be seen in large numbers flitting around the tree canopy, and from tree to tree. The Black Hairstreak and Brown Hairstreak have faced losses due to inappropriate hedgerow and woodland edge management. "Eggs laid on July 30th, 1900, and on the following seven days began hatching on April 8th, 1901, remaining eight months in the egg state. It is also found in parts of Ireland, mainly between Wicklow and South Kerry. Building a Community of Responsible Butterfly Enthusiasts in Britain & Ireland. It's very beautiful but very elusive. The ground colour is a pale greenish-ochreous, thickly sprinkled with minute black points. The males and females are slightly different in coloration – indeed they were once thought to be different species. The dorsal disc on the first segment, which is rather sunken, is pale shining greenish-white, striped with olive and beset with numerous serrated olive-coloured hairs and lenticles; a smaller but similar disc is situated on the anal segment. wide and less in height. It requires warm open areas with some scrub and shelter from the wind. Overwintering eggs are particularly vulnerable to hedge-trimming since they are laid on the youngest growth of the foodplant. The table below shows the occurrence (distribution) and abundance (population) trends, using information from The State of the UK's Butterflies 2015 (Fox, 2015). and Cirsium spp.) brambles (Rubus spp. A number of individuals will reside on a single tree consisting of both male and female White-letter Hairstreaks to form a colony. The larval stage occupies about forty-five days." - Frohawk (1924). 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Larva lies under an oak leaf, Hertfordhire, England, one butterfly species found among hedgerows.

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