Butterflies
Skippers
Whites
Hairstreaks
Blues and Coppers
Admirals
Vannesids
Fritallaries
Browns
Wingspan 30mm
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Butterfly Survey 1976-2020
Green hairstreak Callophrys rubi
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Butterfly images showing forms of spot distribution
One of my favorites, this is a butterfly of remarkable camouflage and catholic habits, the larvae feeding on a whole host of foodplants. However, in the areas that the survey covers it is almost exclusive to the scrub infested hillsides around Eynsford, Shoreham and Otford, where it is most closely associated with dogwood. In this situation the butterfly can be detected with careful observation on various species of low bushes and trees. It can also appear in downland meadows associated with the larval foodplant.
I have recorded this butterfly from late April onwards and it is present from Eynsford to Otford on the ridge and also at High Elms. It is also present in Bromley Common and Bickley
Habit: male and female similar. The butterfly has an erratic whirling flight and frequently comes to rest with wings closed.
Single brooded: over winters as a brown pupa, which can be found loosely attached to dead leaves.
Larval Foodplant: Buckthorn, bramble, rock rose, whortle berry, bird's foot trefoil, but in our area, rarely on gorse or broom and dyer's greenweed.
WH - White Hill Shoreham, BC - Bromley Common, Ha Hayes --BN Bromley North - Ey Eynsford - Orp Orpington BIC - Bickley
Status: not under threat in our area - numbers fluctuating year by year.
By Rodney Compton