This is the largest hairstreak found in the British Isles. It is a local species that lives in self-contained colonies that breed in the same area year after year. This species can also prove elusive, since it spends much of its time resting and basking high up in tall shrubs and trees. 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". This species is found in the southern half of England and Wales, and also around the Burren in Ireland. In England its strongholds are in West Sussex, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, North Devon and South Devon. Strongholds in Wales are in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. In Ireland it is primarily found in the Burren limestones of Clare and South-east Galway. The northernmost sites are found in North Lincolnshire. Subspecies: Thecla betulae betulae The nominate subspecies was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden). The population in the British Isles is represented by this subspecies.
There is one generation each year. This is one of the latest species to emerge in the British Isles, with adults first seen on the wing in late July or early August. Subspecies: Thecla betulae betulae 
The chart(s) above have been correlated with the phenology plot below, taken from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. 
This species lives in habitats where Blackthorn, the primary larval foodplant, is abundant, such as hedgerows and woodland.
The primary larval foodplant is Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Bullace (Prunus domestica) is also used.
Adults feed primarily on Honeydew / Sap (). Bramble (Rubus fruticosus), Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Hogweed / Angelica (Umbelliferae), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) and Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.) are also used.
Adults emerge in the morning and males generally appear a few days before females. This is a warmth-loving butterfly, and is rarely seen on overcast days. On sunny days the adults will rest with wings open, absorbing the sun's rays on their dark brown wings which gradually close as they warm up. In flight, the adults are easily mistaken for the Gatekeeper, which flies at the same time. The males are the more-elusive of the two sexes, congregating high on ash "master trees" that are positioned around the breeding area, where they feed on honeydew. They occasionally come down to feed on various nectar sources, such as Hemp Agrimony, probably when honeydew is scarce. When they do come down, however, they can be remarkably tame and easy to observe. Mating occurs without any discernable courtship, typically high in a tree. Females also spend their time on the master trees until the eggs have matured and they are ready to lay. They then disperse and alternate between basking in the warm sunshine, feeding from nectar sources, and egg-laying. 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 female will crawl among the branches of the foodplant, feeling the branches for appropriate sites, when egg-laying. Subspecies: Thecla betulae betulae
Description to be completed.
The sea urchin-shaped eggs are laid singly on the bark of the foodplant, typically at a fork in a branch that is on one- or two-year old growth that is in a sheltered area exposed to the sun. Eggs are laid at low density over large areas, but 2 or 3 eggs are found together on occasion. The larva partially develops within the egg before entering hibernation for the winter. Overwintering eggs are particularly vulnerable to hedge-trimming since they are laid on the youngest growth of the foodplant.
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The image was taken in January 2012. The egg not having been exposed to the outside elements since hatching the previous April
Photo © Vince Massimo
11-Jan-2012 |
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![Brown Hairstreak egg [Gillian Thompson]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/c4b4e16b801e6eed5472cf4fd910866d.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Brown Hairstreak egg [Gillian Thompson]") |
Photo © Gillian Thompson
02-Feb-2011 |
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![Brown Hairstreak egg [Gillian Thompson]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/0791610a6628c466ee10af34f95aeeb2.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Brown Hairstreak egg [Gillian Thompson]") |
Photo © Gillian Thompson
02-Feb-2011 |
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![Brown Hairstreak eggs [Gillian Thompson]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/60492513e40563e954cdea2e1a83c06a.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Brown Hairstreak eggs [Gillian Thompson]") |
Photo © Gillian Thompson
03-Mar-2011 |
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![Brown Hairstreak egg [Gillian Thompson]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/107460d4d803bdba0147db4571e69f00.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Brown Hairstreak egg [Gillian Thompson]") |
Photo © Gillian Thompson
04-Sep-2011 |
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The larva emerges from the egg in spring by cutting a hole in the top of the egg and immediately enters a developing bud. The eggshell is not eaten and may be found some time after the larva has emerged. After the first moult, the larva will rest by day on a silk pad situated on the underside of a leaf, feeding away from its resting place at night, and returning to rest as dawn approaches. The bright green larva is extremely well-camouflaged, blending perfectly with the leaf on which it sits. The fully-fed larva leaves the foodplant prior to pupation, changing colour to a dull purple to maintain the excellent camouflage as it rummages around in leaf litter. There are 3 moults in total.
The pupa is formed in a crevice in the ground, amongst the leaf litter or at the base of a plant. It has been known for a pupa to be buried by ants, which find it highly attractive, in a loose cell of dry earth. It is believed that mice and shrews are responsible for eating large numbers of pupae in the wild. This stage lasts around 4 weeks.
No similar species found.
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below. |
| Alner's Gorse, Anstey's Cove, Asham Meads, Bernwood Forest, Bernwood Meadows, Boston, Carymoor Environmental Centre, Chambers Farm Wood, Dromore Wood, East Poldens Reserves, Grafton Wood, Hatton Meadows, Horley, Ifield, Langford Heathfield, Levin Down, Little Breach, Lough Bunny, Lydlinch Common, Mansmead wood, Mount Fancy Reserve, Noar Hill, Orley Common, Otmoor RSPB Reserve, Piddington Wood, Rushbeds Wood, Shipton Bellinger, Somerford Common, Steyning Downs, Stoke Common Meadows, Thurlbear Quarrylands, Welsh Wildlife Centre, West Williamston Salt Marshes, Whitecross Green Wood, Witch Lodge Fields |
The long-term trend for this species shows a severe decline and it is therefore a priority species for conservation efforts. Unsympathetic farming practices that involve the flailing of hedgerows containing overwintering eggs are considered to be one factor in this demise. From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
- Asher (2001). Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoate, G. and Jeffcoate, S.: The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2001.
- Fox (2006). Fox, R., Asher, J., Brereton, T., Roy, D. and Warren, M.: The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. 2006.
- Frohawk (1914). Frohawk, F.W.: A Natural History of British Butterflies. 1914.
- Howarth (1973). Howarth, T.G.: South's British Butterflies. 1973.
- Nash (2012). Nash, D., Boyd, T. and Hardiman, D.: Ireland's Butterflies: A Review. 2012.
- Riley (2007). Riley, A.M.: British and Irish Butterflies: The Complete Identification, Field and Site Guide to the Species, Subspecies and Forms. 2007.
- South (1906). South, R.: The Butterflies Of The British Isles. 1906.
- Thomas & Lewington (2010). Thomas, J. and Lewington, R.: The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Edn.2. 2010.
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