Scientific Name: Neozephyrus quercus.
English Name: Purple Hairstreak.
French Name: La Thécla du chene (='the oak Thecla').
5 Key Characters:
Habitat: Oak woods and copses. We have also recorded it nectaring on bramble on the edges of the Parc de Boussay, a large managed mixed forest a few kilometres from Preuilly-sur-Claise, and in the gardens of the Chateau of Chenonceau, where they were sheltering in a Mexican Mock Orange Choisya bush and coming to drink at a puddle in the path in numbers, close to a large Holm Oak Quercus ilex.
Flight Period: June-July-August-September.
Caterpillar: Small, camouflage pattern in brown, April to June.
Host Plant: Several species of oak (Downy Oak Q. pubescens, Sessile Oak Q. petraea, Holm Oak Q. ilex).
Status: Widespread and quite abundant, but often difficult to see, so tends to be under recorded.
Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:
English Name: Purple Hairstreak.
French Name: La Thécla du chene (='the oak Thecla').
5 Key Characters:- virtually never rests with open wings.
- underside gray with an irregular fine dark and white line (presumably the 'hairstreak').
- short fine tail on hindwing.
- two orange eyespots, one below the tail, one just above.
- upperside dark brownish black with blue flush or reflections.
Habitat: Oak woods and copses. We have also recorded it nectaring on bramble on the edges of the Parc de Boussay, a large managed mixed forest a few kilometres from Preuilly-sur-Claise, and in the gardens of the Chateau of Chenonceau, where they were sheltering in a Mexican Mock Orange Choisya bush and coming to drink at a puddle in the path in numbers, close to a large Holm Oak Quercus ilex.
Flight Period: June-July-August-September.
Caterpillar: Small, camouflage pattern in brown, April to June.
Host Plant: Several species of oak (Downy Oak Q. pubescens, Sessile Oak Q. petraea, Holm Oak Q. ilex).
Status: Widespread and quite abundant, but often difficult to see, so tends to be under recorded.
Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:
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