Melissa and I went to Anderby Creek in love of the Green Hairstreak Butterfly.
Last year Butterfly Conservation in Lincolnshire (which we are both members of) went on a field trip on 14th May there, so we retraced some steps.
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
There were plenty of territorial chases where some males were perched on wild rose and Hawthorn, where they were also nectaring (May Tree).
It was thought that males emerge first, find a territorial perch about head height and wait for a passing female.
These two came together on Ivy foliage in full sun after a very short 'fluttering 'courtship.
Interference from another Green Hairstreak while mating lead this pair into a retreat position under wild rose foliage after a short flight together: Habitat - Sand Dunes
This butterfly species was thought to have evolved a relationship with a specific species of ant to complete it's life cycle.