White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)

Family: Lycaenidae Checklist: 61.006

 
Description
Wing span: 26-36 mm. The W-shaped white line and the border of orange spots with black chevrons on the underside of the hindwings are the most characteristic features of this butterfly. Adults always rest with their wings closed. The sexes are similar. It occurs through much of England and eastern Wales. It can be found anywhere that the larval food plant grows.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
White-letter Hairstreak ♂ underside © David Hastings
White-letter Hairstreak ♀ underside © David Hastings
Male underside Female underside
 
Life Cycle
There is one brood a year, with the adults emerging in late June or early July. The egg is the over-wintering stage.
 
Larval Foodplants
The preferred larval food plant is Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra), but English Elm (Ulmus minor) and hybrids are also used.
 
Nectar Sources
Adults feed on honeydew, and also on flowers such as Thistles, Hemp Agrimony, Majoram and Ragwort.
 
UK Conservation Status
Vulnerable
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 7th June
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 19th June
 
Species Champion
Peter Cuss
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Reports
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat specialist. It can be found at these sites:
Berkshire
Maidenhead Thicket
Buckinghamshire
Blue Lagoon
Calvert Jubilee
Chinkwell Wood
Homefield Wood
Howe Park Wood
Oxfordshire
Chazey Heath
Piddington Wood
Standlake Common
Whitecross Green Wood

 
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