Thecla betulae
Wingspan Female 39 - 45mm Male 37 - 41mm
Description
This small elusive butterfly is the largest of the British hairstreaks. The female upperwings are a deep warm brown and her upper forewings sport large orange flashes, these flashes are absent in the male. The underside of both sexes is orange with white streaks.
Flight Period
Late July - Late September
Larval food plant
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
Habitat
Woodland edge, Blackthorn hedgerows
Status
Resident, scarce and restricted, mainly North Wiltshire
Earliest Sightings
Earliest county record: 19th July 2011 North Wiltshire (Matthew Oates)
Latest county record
15th October 1989