Green Hairstreak
Callophrys rubi
| Home | The Butterflies of Gloucestershire | Species | Habitats | Conservation |
Green HairstreakCallophrys rubi |
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| 28 May 1977 | 27 May 1978 |
Habitat
In our area, Green Hairstreaks are found mainly on the unimproved limestone
grasslands of the Cotswolds. Scrubby areas in grassland or woodland,
and old quarries and railway lines also provide suitable habitat.
The species can use a wide range of larval foodplants, both wild flowers
and shrubs.
It is unusual to see more than a few of the butterflies, although this sometimes happens. Early one evening a quantity were observed on a Crab Apple tree on a grassland site, and on another site flowers of Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) attracted a number of the butterflies, making them much easier to find than usual.
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Conservation Issues
Loss of unimproved grassland habitat and succession of scrub to
woodland are probably the main threats to the species.
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Flight PeriodMostly late April to mid June.
DistributionThroughout the Cotswolds, and in parts of the Forest of Dean. The species is very easily overlooked, and it seems likely that it also occurs in some of the less well-recorded parts of the area.
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