Butterflies of
Europe
Ilex Hairstreak
Satyrium ilicis
ESPER, 1779
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
THECLINAE
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Ilex Hairstreak
Satyrium ilicis, Vuganac, Croatia
© Peter Bruce-Jones |
Introduction
There are 64 described species in the genus
Satyrium, which has at various times been known by the
invalid synonyms Neolycaena,
Nordmannia,
Pseudothecla and Strymonidia.
The genus occurs across the temperate, sub-arctic and subtropical
regions of the northern hemisphere.
There are 7 species in Europe -
acaciae, ilicis,
esculi, spini,
w-album, pruni
and ledereri; of which only
w-album and
pruni occur in Britain.
Satyrium ilicis
occurs in scattered colonise across most of central & southern
Europe, and east to Israel, Lebanon and the western Ural
mountains.
Habitats
This species is found in the vicinity of oak trees, but is not
limited to woodland. It is often locally common on scrubby heaths,
and in dry stony meadows and fields in woodland / grassland
mosaics at altitudes between sea level and at least 1600m.
Lifecycle
The butterfly is
single-brooded, emerging from late May to early August depending
on altitude and local climatic conditions.
The eggs are laid
singly or in pairs, on or near the buds of oaks, favouring
Quercus coccifera but also using
Q. ilex and Q.
robur. They hibernate until the following March or April.
The plump green
caterpillars feed on tender young oak leaves. They are attended by
at least 2 species of ant - Camponotus
aethiops and Crematogastor schmidtii,
which "milk" them to sequester sugary fluids excreted from a gland
on the caterpillar's back. In return the ants provide them with
protection from parasitoids and predatory insects.
Ilex Hairstreak
Satyrium ilicis, Vuganac, Croatia
© Peter Bruce-Jones
Adult behaviour
The adults are usually seen singly, when attracted to flowers
including thyme, stonecrop, elder and bramble.
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