Hairstreaks in Sussex

The Hairstreaks have always held a fascination for me. They are an attractive group of butterflies within the Lycaenidae family and you need to hone your fieldcraft skills in order to find and get close to them.

 All five species of British Hairstreaks can be found in Sussex. Two of them are common and widespread within the county, two are much more localised in their distribution and one is in the county probably as a result of an unauthorised introduction.

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

This lovely species is common and widespread in Sussex and can be found in a variety of habitats. Unlike our other hairstreaks, it is not really a canopy dweller and can invariably be spotted at head height along woodland rides, gorse patches on the downs and on heathland.

(male)

(mating pair, male on right)

(female)

(male)

Purple Hairstreak (Favonius quercus)

Another common and widespread species in Sussex, quercus is predominantly a woodland canopy dweller. However, it can be found and approached with stealth, low down along woodland rides at certain times of the day. 

(females)

(mating)

(males)

(female, ab. flavimaculatus)

Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae)

This species is predominantly a butterfly of West Sussex and rather localised in its distribution. For a species that lays its eggs on Blackthorn, a very common plant throughout Sussex, only occasional sightings are reported from East Sussex.

(all photographs are of females)

White-letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)

This species is very localised in its distribution in Sussex. It lays its eggs exclusively on species of elm and colonies have been greatly affected by Dutch Elm Disease. Certainly, in my part of East Sussex, many fine elm stands have disappeared and sucker regrowth never looks very healthy after a couple of years. Consequently, finding colonies can be difficult.

(female)

(males)

Black Hairstreak (Satyrium pruni)

Nationally, this species occurs in a band across the English midlands, roughly between Oxford and Cambridge. Historically, it is unlikely that the Black Hairstreak has ever been native to Sussex but it is a species that has been subject to un-authorised releases in south-east England over many decades.

In 2017, a colony was found to be quite well established at a site in mid-Sussex.

My only encounter with the Black Hairstreak was in 2014, at a site in Cambridgeshire.

(female)

Some Moths during December

Although there are several resident moth species that are on the wing in December, you are only likely to attract them to the light-trap on mild, still and overcast nights, this late in the year. There were only very few such nights this December but those nights were reasonably productive.

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi) (male)

(mating pair, female on right)

Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) (male)

Scarce Umber (Agriopis aurantiaria) (male)

Pale Brindled Beauty (Phigalia pilosaria) (males)

Winter Moth (Operophtera brumata) (male)

Some Moths during November

 Weather conditions during November have been very changeable as autumn moves towards winter.

The moth-trap has mainly produced late season resident species together with a few common migrants and one adventive species that is now becoming a common visitor to my garden.

Feathered Thorn (Colotois pennaria) 

(male)

(female)

Only the male has feathered antennae. 

Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) (male)

Females of this species are flightless.

November Moth (Epirrita dilutata) (or Epirrita sp.)

Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata)

(3rd brood)

Musotima nitidalis

This accidental import from the Antipodes is now becoming increasingly common in my garden.

Palpita vitrealis

Delicate (Mythimna vitellina)

Sprawler (Asteroscopus sphinx)

Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri hesperica)

Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota)

Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta)

Brick (Agrochola circellaris)

Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii)

Silver Y (Autographa gamma)

The Red Admiral

 During the first week of November, the only species of butterfly I found on the wing on Pevensey Levels was the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

The Red Admiral is primarily a migrant to Britain but for the last couple of decades or so, our warming climate has enabled this species to successfully over-winter.

 It is a continually breeding species and does not undergo true hibernation. All it requires to survive our winter is the availability of safe roosts and a ready source of nectar.

I have often seen atalanta on the wing during mild and sunny winter days on heathland, where there is plenty of dead bracken for roosting and there is always gorse in flower for nectar.

On the 5th. November, on Pevensey Levels, it was no surprise to me to watch at least two female Red Admirals laying eggs on fresh nettle growth, in a sunny corner.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 

(Basking on a fence post)

(Ovipositing female on nettle. The ovum is just visible below the tip of her abdomen)

(Ovum on the outer-upper edge of a nettle leaf)

 

Some Moths during October

 The overnight weather conditions during the last week have been mild and overcast. This favourable weather for moth-trapping looks set to continue into November. 

Good numbers of interesting migrants are still being recorded in coastal areas of the county but for those of us that are further inland, migrant numbers have fallen away somewhat.

Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina)

L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album)

Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)

Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago)

Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis)

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)

Spruce Carpet (Thera britannica)

Pine Carpet (Thera firmata)

Cypress Carpet (Thera cupressata)

Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)