Satyrium w-album
This small dark-brown butterfly spends most of it life high up in the canopy of English and Wych Elm and has a well-deserved reputation for being difficult to find, and even more difficult to study. Both of these tree species were very badly affected by Dutch Elm Disease, from the late 1960s, onwards, and apart from a few Brighton parks there is nowhere in Sussex where White-letter Hairstreaks can be seen very easily. This species is most active in the early part of the morning and then late afternoon and early evening, and it is often the dogfights between the males that alerts us to its presence. Very strongly arboreal, only rarely does an individual descend to nectar on wildflowers such as Wild Privet and Bramble. It is a docile insect, and it will usually ignore the presence of the butterfly photographer.
It is one of those species that seems to run in cycles, swarming all over a mature Elm one year but difficult to find the next. To see one requires plenty of patience and more than a modicum of luck.
Between 2006-2024 an “average first sighting” was June 20th (with a very large range of June 4th to July 10th). It has a short flight period, with an “average last sighting” of July 25th (range July 12th to August 10th).
Looking at the 2010-2014 county survey distribution map, White-letter Hairstreaks were recorded in very small numbers in both vice-counties. However, the bulk of the records were between Brighton and Eastbourne, with colonies found on the coast and the South Downs. The Brighton parks are the most reliable locations: Preston Park at TQ303063, Royal Pavilion Gardens and Victoria Gardens at TQ312042 and TQ313043 and Hollingbury Park at TQ314072 to TQ316077. Otherwise, Littlehampton Golf Course between TQ022018 and TQ018013.
Female White-letter Hairstreak on Bramble – photo by Dave Brown
The usual distant view – photo by Dave Brown
Nectaring on Wild Privet – photo by Keith Wilson
Nectaring on Wild Privet – photo by Keith Wilson
Feeding on Bramble – photo by Peter Farrant
Nectaring on Blackberry blossom – photo by Dave Brown
At rest - photo by David Broxham
Nectaring on Marjoram - photo by Chris Bird
Nectaring on thistle - Sussex BC website photo
Butterfly Conservation White Letter Hairstreak
