Hairstreaks

The hairstreaks are a family of the Lycaenidea. These butterflies are so named due to the white zig zag line on the underside.

   Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus

   Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi

Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi

The sexes of the green hairstreak are hard to tell apart. The uppersides are plain brown. As a species they are easily distinguished and get their name through their green underside. On the underside of the hindwings is a line of small white dots.

Their foodplants include gorse, bramble and bird’s foot trefoil. They overwinter as pupae.

Purple Hairstreak Quercusia quercus

The purple hairstreak is a very striking butterfly particularly the female. On the uppersides, the males are a dark iridescent purple all over, while the females have additional bright purple patches on the forewings. The undersides of both sexes are a light grey with orange spots.

The purple hairstreak tends to go unnoticed. Their habit of living high up in the tree canopy means that for most of the time they are out of sight. If they are seen flying only the grey undersides are visible. Even if the uppersides are visible the iridescence depends on the angle of viewing.

There is a single brood. The foodplants are the oaks. They overwinter as eggs laid on oak buds. The caterpillars on hatching burrow into the oak buds where they are hidden but surrounded by a food source. As the caterpillars grow they eventually have to leave the bud, and build a leaf and silk tent.