Spanish Purple Hairstreaks / Algarve

[Sylvie_h]

I was in the Algarve 2 weeks ago and observed a large number of Spanish Purple hairstreaks (they definitively were Laeosopis Roboris) on Quercus Ilex. The butterflies were very active and seemed to fight for the best spot on the top of the trees. I thought that the males were competing for the best place to attract females (these Holm Oaks were also on the top of a hill) but why on Quercus? I could not see any of the larval foodplant (Fraxinus) around at all and I cannot find any information on the internet regarding the link between oak trees and Spanish purple hairstreaks.
Can anybody (Roger, Guy) shed some light on this?
Thanks,
Sylvie

[Roger Gibbons]

This would seem very strange to me. I have seen roboris in four locations in Var, in three of them adjacent to Fraxinus and close to water, and at the other location they were nectaring on Rhus coraria or bramble or umbellifers. I have never seen any activity involving Quercus trees, so really can’t offer any useful information.

They should be out here soon, so I will report any unusual behaviour.

Roger