The Purple Hairstreak is our commonest hairstreak, and may be found in oak woodland throughout southern Britain, and more locally elsewhere. It is often difficult to locate, due to its habit of flying in the tree canopy, where it feeds on honeydew. However, the adults are occasionally seen basking at lower levels, on various small trees, shrubs and bracken. This butterfly is found across southern England and Wales, with scattered colonies further north. It is also found in parts of Ireland, mainly between Wicklow and South Kerry. This species is not found in the Isle of Man.
Subspecies: Neozephyrus quercus quercus
The nominate subspecies was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Not stated). The population in the British Isles is represented by this subspecies.
Adults emerge from the last week of June, through July and into August, with adults still being found into September. There is a peak at the end of July and early August, or later in Scotland. There is one brood each year.
Subspecies: Neozephyrus quercus quercus
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 butterfly is primarily found in woodland containing oak trees, the foodplant of the larva. However, the species can be found in any location where oaks occur, including lanes, parks, and other urban areas.
The Purple Hairstreak is one of the delights of summer, seen in oak woodland across the south of England, and more locally in other areas. 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. Groups of several individuals chasing one another are not an uncommon sight. The butterfly primarily feeds on honeydew, but will occasionally feed from nectar sources such as Bramble.
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. They are laid on branches that are sheltered and that receive full sunshine - such branches are therefore on the southern side of the tree. There also appears to be a preference for solitary trees, such as those found at the edges of woods, or those that form part of a hedgerow.
Eggs are also most-often found on relatively mature trees (since these have the plumpest buds) on branches that are twisted and gnarled. Eggs are relatively easy to find in suitable locations during the winter months before the oak buds burst.
The eggs are bun-shaped but, on closer examination, more closely resemble a sea urchin. Each egg is white when first laid but can become discoloured when exposed to the elements, giving the appearance of being dark grey. The larva is fully-developed within the egg after around 3 weeks, but does not emerge until the following spring.
The larva eats part of its eggshell on hatching before burrowing into a developing bud where it feeds fully-concealed. After the first moult, the larva lives outside the bud, under a loosely-spun silk web. This web catches all sorts of debris and acts as camouflage as a result. The larva is extremely well-camouflaged and, in later stages when the larva lies under an oak bud, is very difficult to locate. Some have suggested that the best method to find larvae is by feel, rather than sight! The larva rests during the day, feeding only at night and there are 3 moults in total.
The pupa is generally formed in a loose cocoon just under the surface of soil, moss or leaf litter, or possibly in the crevice of a tree. It has also been found in ants' nests. This stage lasts around 4 weeks.
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.
![Purple Hairstreak - imago - Thatcham - 26-May-04 (6) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/617ddb61aa92816775cf7326703541ad.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - imago - Thatcham - 26-May-04 (6) [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - ovum - Thatcham - 17-Mar-07 (1001) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/cb51f9d8b63faa68c0666e7bda56e3cd.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - ovum - Thatcham - 17-Mar-07 (1001) [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - ovum - Thatcham - 25-Mar-05 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/0a37525ffa1d46ba90a286b118d794bd.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - ovum - Thatcham - 25-Mar-05 [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 15-May-05 (4) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/abd8e1820f58b2e7fefa139388ee012a.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 15-May-05 (4) [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 15-May-05 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/73707c775a6bfcc12e7211e347f3a37f.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 15-May-05 [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 21-May-06 (0134) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/0055fe809671fc656d16f7deb1d33650.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 21-May-06 (0134) [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 22-Apr-04 (2) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/b110cf74a650fb15dd4c28cfcd0d7c96.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - larva - Thatcham - 22-Apr-04 (2) [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-06 (0239) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/1adb7790156acbb04221b8b64403b146.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - pupa - Thatcham - 09-Jun-06 (0239) [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak - pupa - Thatcham - 31-May-05 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/15f0c4d018e939e84cd78468b452e630.jpg "Purple Hairstreak - pupa - Thatcham - 31-May-05 [REARED]")
![Purple Hairstreak pupa (reared) Henfield, Sussex 1-June-12 [Richard Roebuck]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/838e7fb3d660e782112bdda7611f5649.jpg "Purple Hairstreak pupa (reared) Henfield, Sussex 1-June-12 [Richard Roebuck]")
![Purple Hairstreak pupa (reared) - Henfield, Sussex 01-June-12 [Richard Roebuck]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/f2acd3fb7d173e3dcb1df6c6d6f15017.jpg "Purple Hairstreak pupa (reared) - Henfield, Sussex 01-June-12 [Richard Roebuck]")
