White Letter Hairstreak butterfly

Strymonidia w-album

family - Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers & Hairstreaks)

My personal observations of the White Letter Hairstreak butterfly

Seen in my garden: 7 August 2001 - very rare garden visitor

garden plants that attract this species: Hyssop and Field Scabious

Images:

thumbnail link On Hyssop.

thumbnail link On Field Scabious.

thumbnail link On Field Scabious.

observations:

One sighting only - surprised to see this butterfly in my front garden although there are a few Elm trees in the hedgerow behind the back garden. Weather that day was poor for butterfly photography - very windy and spotting with rain. I saw it from the kitchen window when washing-up after lunch. It stayed all afternoon and roosted in the Golden Rod overnight.

Reference Section

Size: 35mm (smaller than the Small White - see list of butterflies by size)

First Generation flight period: July-August

Larval Food Plants: Elms
Wild Nectar Plants: Field Scabious

Family Group: Lycaenidae - see list of butterflies by family

This page last updated: 2 July, 2004