Black Hairstreak in southern England.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:37 am
I am revisiting my copy of South "The Butterflies of the British Isles" which I won way back in 1947 as a school prize, an era when children were encouraged to be competitive.
The Black Hairstreak entry intrigues:
"Larvae have been recorded from Surrey. These were beaten from sloe in May 1919".
It is generally assumed that the colonies at Ditchling Common, Epsom Common and allegedly the Cranleigh area are all the result of introductions in the middle of the 20th century. But maybe Richard South was on to something in the 1941 edition of his book.
Jack
The Black Hairstreak entry intrigues:
"Larvae have been recorded from Surrey. These were beaten from sloe in May 1919".
It is generally assumed that the colonies at Ditchling Common, Epsom Common and allegedly the Cranleigh area are all the result of introductions in the middle of the 20th century. But maybe Richard South was on to something in the 1941 edition of his book.
Jack