Puneet Varma (Editor)

Brown hairstreak

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Genus
  
Thecla

Higher classification
  
Thecla

Phylum
  
Family
  
Scientific name
  
Thecla betulae

Rank
  
Species

Brown hairstreak butterflyconservationorgfilesbrownhairstreak

Similar
  
Thecla, Purple hairstreak, Butterflies and moths, Green hairstreak, Butterfly

Brown hairstreak butterfly


The brown hairstreak (Thecla betulae) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The range includes most of the Palaearctic.

Contents

Brown hairstreak Butterfly Conservation Brown Hairstreak

The brown hairstreak thecla betulae


Subspecies

Brown hairstreak Butterfly Conservation Brown Hairstreak

  • T. b. betulae Europe, northern Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Saur, Tarbagatai, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Siberia, Amur, Ussuri. Larva on Prunus spinosa (Caucasus), Crataegus sanguinea, (southern Altai, Saur)
  • T. b. crassa Leech, 1894 southern Ussuri. Larva on Prunus padus, Prunus mandshurica
  • T. b. ongodai Tutt, 1908 Altai
  • T. b. coreana (Nire, 1919) Korea. Larva on Fabaceae
  • T. b. elwesi Leech, 1890 western and central China
  • T. b. yiliguozigounae Huang & Murayama, 1992 China
  • Appearance and behaviour

    Brown hairstreak British Butterflies A Photographic Guide by Steven Cheshire

    A little butterfly that is found along hedges, scrub, and wood edges but is often overlooked since it spends much of its time high in the tree canopy. Like the purple emperor this butterfly uses 'master trees', usually European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Males and unmated females congregate at the tops of isolated trees. Once mated the female descends to lower levels to begin laying her eggs. Males rarely descend and both feed mainly on honeydew. Both sexes are dark brown on the upperside with orange tails. The female also has a bright orange band across both forewings. The undersides are similar in both sexes and are bright orange with two white streaks.

    Life cycle and food plants

    Brown hairstreak Devon Butterflies Brown Hairstreak 50

    In Europe the female lays her eggs on blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in late August which overwinter, hatching the following spring when the buds are breaking. It has been found that the best way to find breeding sites for this species is to look for the conspicuous white eggs in the winter. The larvae are extremely well camouflaged and feed only at night, remaining motionless during the day. Pupation takes place in leaf litter on the ground in late June or early July and are attractive to ants who will bury them in shallow cells.

    Brown hairstreak Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire Saving Butterflies Moths

    Brown hairstreak Butterfly Conservation Dorset Coppers amp Hairstreaks

    References

    Brown hairstreak Wikipedia


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