Duke of Burgundy

Hamearis lucinaWingspan: Female 29mm – 33mm Male  

Description
This small blue sized butterfly has the markings of a fritillary. The upperwings are a dark blackish brown with paler orange patches towards the outer edge. The underwings have more orange and the underside of the hind wings has a conspicuous band of white cells. 

Your photographs 

Flight Period
Mid-April to mid-June 

Habitat RequirementsChalk or limestone grassland, prefers north or west facing slopes.
Clearings in ancient woodland sites. In both habitats the larval food plant should be growing among tussocky vegetation with so scrub. 

Larval Food plants
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Cowslip (Primula vulgaris)
Oxslip 

Wiltshire Status
Resident, very local and rare. 

Wiltshire Sites
Dean Hill Park
Green Lane Wood
Blackmoor Copse
Salibury Plain

Earliest sightings
Earliest county record 8^th April  2011, Dean hill Park (Dave Lowe) 

Latest count record
16^th July 1986