Purple Emp ......Hairtreak!
Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 9:28 pm
Went to Straits inclosure in the hope of seeing Purple Emperors. Didn't see any but saw this little beauty instead
More like a PE than a PH, he was spotted on the path and just to convince us he was not dead, he'd occasionally raise his wings together and go for little jaunts of around 2 inches or so. Photographers came and went but still he hardly budged. In the end, fearing he might get trod on we moved him onto an oak leaf then onto some bramble.
This open winged hairstreak made mine and Colin Bakers day, but why was he so docile (for want of a better description)?! Some butterflies are off as soon as you get within 10 metres of them .... but this little fellow seemed contented to just sit there
Just to add more info he was found around 11:00 a.m. The temperature was not hot but not cool either, plenty of stuff flying around. When my daughter picked him up (he walked onto her hand) he had a little flutter back down again, but at no point did it look like he was trying to escape.
Later my daughter found a lizard, and this didn't move too. All the lizards I've ever seen before have made off as soon as you get near to them. You could touch this one.
![Surprised :o](./images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif)
This open winged hairstreak made mine and Colin Bakers day, but why was he so docile (for want of a better description)?! Some butterflies are off as soon as you get within 10 metres of them .... but this little fellow seemed contented to just sit there
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Just to add more info he was found around 11:00 a.m. The temperature was not hot but not cool either, plenty of stuff flying around. When my daughter picked him up (he walked onto her hand) he had a little flutter back down again, but at no point did it look like he was trying to escape.
Later my daughter found a lizard, and this didn't move too. All the lizards I've ever seen before have made off as soon as you get near to them. You could touch this one.
![Cool 8)](./images/smilies/icon_cool.gif)