| Blue Spot Hairstreak (Satyrium spini (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)) |
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Scientific name: Satyrium spini (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Common name: Blue Spot Hairstreak French name: Thécla des nerpruns Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Lycaenidae Subfamily: Theclinae Wingspan: 27-32 mm. Biotope: Open, dry and sunny habitats. Geographic area: Southern and central Europe, Asia Minor, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq. Flight time: Late May to late July. Number of generations : 1 Caterpillar: Green and slightly hairy with two thin, yellow and interrupted dorsal lines and two thin, yellow lateral lines, and also with small oblique markings. Host plant: Buckthorns (Rhamnus sp.). |
Blue Spot Hairstreaks' upper side of the wings is a dark brown colour. There is a small orange spot at the anal angle of the hind wings. Females' wings may show larger yellow orange areas. The hind wings bear a short tail. The underside of the wings is a paler greyish brown colour. Both wings are crossed by a well marked white postdiscal line. This line is rather straight but it curves close to the anal angle on the hind wing. The underside of the hind wing shows some orange lunules in the submarginal area but also a blue spot close tot the tail. This blue spot is typical of this species. The Blue Spot Hairstreak over winters at the egg state. |
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The blue spot close to the short tail is enough to confirm the species identification. |
André Bon May 2019
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