www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

If anybody has rescued any Brown Hairstreak eggs this year you should tie them to your host plants straight away. I have already had one report of captive eggs hatching on 16th March. This is 4 weeks earlier than I have ever experienced and 6 weeks earlier than stated in expert literature.

If you have any Purple Hairstreak eggs, then also be prepared for them to hatch very soon.

Vince

Thanks Vince
I have had a complete disaster from the handful of eggs that I rescued from Noar Hill - checked them last weekend as I realised they might be early and had prepared to fix them to my blackthorn - only to find they have all been predated! I had lined the container - which had been left in the garage - with tissue and there appeared caterpillar frass so i suspected they might have hatched - but on examining each egg under a hand lens each they had all been eaten into around the base. On closer examination I could see movement on the white tissue and these appear to be small mites ( eight legs ) of some sort (red spider?) which seemed to have produced the frass. Have taken some photos of the critters but unfortunately every single egg has succumbed so no BH for me
I know BH is supposed to be pretty hardy but all mine have been got at and will post photos of what I think are the culprits when I get the chance and perhaps someone can identify them.
Mark

Hi Mark

Sorry to hear about your Brown Hairstreak eggs, that is very bad luck Hopefully others will have faired better. I also notice that one of my Purple Hairstreak eggs seems to have suffered in the same way. hopefully the remaining two will hatch successfully.