Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus (Linnaeus, 1758))

Scientific name: Favonius quercus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common name: Purple Hairstreak
Other names: Other scientific name: Neozephyrus quercus.
French name: Thécla du chêne, Porte-Queue bleu à une bande blanche.
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Rhopalocera
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Wingspan: 33 to 40 mm for males, 31 to 38 mm for females.
Biotope: Forests, copses and parks with Oaks.
Geographic area: Europe but missing in the extreme northern regions (Scotland, northern Scandinavia), western Asia east to Azerbaijan, Asia Minor, North Africa.
Flight time: Late June to early October.
Number of generations : 1
Caterpillar: The caterpillar is dark red-brown, short and broad. It shows one thin dark grey dorsal stripe bordered with lighter-coloured triangular markings. There is a white line along the flanks.
Host plant: Oaks (Quercus).

The upper side of the males' wings is blackish with a very large purple sheen so that there is just a remaining broad black border.
This purple sheen is a much smaller size on the upper side of females' wings where it is restricted to a basal patch on the fore wings.
Purple hairstreaks most often land with their wings closed, so you can only see the under side. It is similar on both sexes. It is a light grey colour with a thin dark line bordered with white.
The hind wings bear a short tail preceded by a black-pupiled orange eyespot. There is also a small orange and black patch at the anal angle of the hind wings.
Purple Hairstreaks are used to flying next to the high branches of Oaks. They feed on honeydew from aphids.
The Purple Hairstreak over winters as an egg.

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) - Yvelines, France - August 11th 2012

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I had not observed any Purple Hairstreak during my previous and frequent visits to this small clearing. And then, on this sunny August day, many of them are landed on umbellifers. I should have looked higher at the high oak foliage on my previous visits.

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) - Yvelines, France - August 11th 2012

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I have tried to see the upper side of the wings but Purple Hairstreaks are always used to landing with their wings closed. I have only been able to shoot this picture among high grasses. You cannot see any purple sheen :-(
Maybe next time ...

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus) - Yvelines, France - June 1st 2013

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