Friday, 10 September, 2010 homebutterfliesmothseventspressrecordingprojectsreservemembershipmagazinedownloadaboutcontactlinks Butterflies of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae The Brown Hairstreak is a single brooded species being on the wing from late July to early September, with the males emerging first. The elusive adults occurs in low numbers over large areas. Males may congregate around a 'master tree', usually an Ash near the breeding colony. The adults feed primarily on aphid honeydew which coats the leaves of Ash although adults can sometimes be seen feeding on flowers. The females may be found feeding on Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) and Brambles (Rubus fructicosus) between periods of egg laying. The adult male Brown Hairstreak lacks the golden orange flashes on the upper-forwings shown in the photo right. Larval Food plants Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) Habitat Requirements Areas of extensive hedgerows or woodland edges where Blackthorn is present in large quantities and where minimal hedgerow damage through mechanical trimming occurs. Mechanical flailing of hedgerows during the autumn months can have a devastating effect on this species with the number of eggs which hatch the following spring being greatly reduced. It is possible that the Brown Hairstreak may occur in very small numbers in the south Warwickshire area. Recent egg searches on the border with Worcestershire have resulted in some eggs being found in our region although adult butterflies are yet to be recorded. Warwickshire Status Resident Where to see the Brown Hairstreak The presence of Brown Hairstreak eggs in Warwickshire is thought to be due to conservation action at the nearest known breeding colony of Brown Hairstreak centering around Grafton Wood near Flyford Flavel, Worcestershire. During 2009/10, several Brown Hairstreak eggs were located on Blackthorn centered around Ryton Wood Meadows and an adult butterfly was seen briefly in 2009. Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire has begun monitoring of this species in order to establish its true distribution in the area. Attempts at re-introduction Between 1968 and 1972, a colony of Brown Hairstreak was present in the region but its sudden disapearance resulted in an attempted reintroduction at Yarningdale Common in August 1982. The project was however unsucessful. Other Species Please select an alternative species from the list below. Bath White Black Hairstreak Black-veined White Brimstone Brown Argus Brown Hairstreak Camberwell Beauty Chalkhill Blue Chequered Skipper Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue Dappled White Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Duke of Burgundy Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Geranium Bronze Green Hairstreak Green-veined White Grizzled Skipper High Brown Fritillary Holly Blue Large Skipper Large Tortoiseshell Large White Long-tailed Blue Map Marbled White Marsh Fritillary Mazarine Blue Meadow Brown Orange-tip Painted Lady Pale Clouded Yellow Peacock Pearl-bordered Fritillary Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Silver-studded Blue Silver-washed Fritillary Small Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood Swallowtail Wall Brown White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak Wood White © Steven Cheshire - Female at Grafton Wood, Worcestershire First Sightings First sighting dates are based on records of Brown Hairstreak submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. - - - - © Steven Cheshire - Female at Grafton Wood, Worcestershire   © Debbie Cheshire - Female at Grafton Wood, Worcestershire Adult Flight Times The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Brown Hairstreak in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull Distribution of the Brown Hairstreak during the indicated period. Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings 12-910+       2007 Distribution Data (1yr)   2008 available soon   2009 Distribution Data (1yr)   2000-09 Distribution Data (10yr) Regional Distribution of the Brown Hairstreak Regional Distribution Map This map provides a regional overview of the distribution of the Brown Hairstreak in the counties of Birmingham and Black Country, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Key to West Midlands Maps: Present 1995-2007 Present prior to 1995 The West Midlands Region © Butterfly Conservation WarwickshirePrivacy and Copyright Statement Butterfly Conservation is a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)   Web site designed and maintained by Steven Cheshire