Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni) | Species | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Male. Taken at Bernwood Meadows, Bucks, on June 9th 2020. (1/400th sec at f11. © David Hastings)  Female. Taken at Whitecross Green Wood, Oxon., on June 21st 2015. (1/25th sec at f13. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Theclinae Wing span: 34 - 40 mm The Black Hairstreak is very similar to the White-letter Hairstreak. The main distinguishing feature between the two species is that the Black has a row of distinctive black dots running along the inside of the orange band on the underside of the hindwing; these are absent in the White-letter. Male and female Black Hairstreaks are similar, but the hindwing tails are longer in females. This species has a very restricted distribution in England, which follows a line of clay soils between Peterborough and Oxford. It is widespread but patchily distributed in Europe. Black Hairstreak colonies are typically located in small woods or nearby hedgerows, where stands of mature Blackthorn grow. Sites are located in sheltered, sunny positions and typically have a southerly aspect to them. The flight period only lasts for about 3 weeks, with the adults normally being seen in the second half of June and the first week of July. The ovum is the over-wintering stage, with the young caterpillar fully formed inside. The primary larval foodplant is Blackthorn. Wild Plum is also used occasionally. As well as aphid honeydew, adults will also take nectar from flowers such as Wild Privet, Dog Rose and Bramble. Adults spend much of their time resting high up on Field Maple, Ash or Blackthorn, crawling over leaves and twigs in search of aphid honeydew. Males make short, looping flights in and out of the canopy; females are more sedentary. They always rest with their wings closed. Endangered Sightings
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