Family: Lycaenidae

Flight Time: Late May - Early August

Size: 32-36mm

Altitude: 0-1600m

The Ilex hairstreak is one a few quite similar species in Europe. In southern France you may also see the False ilex hairstreak Satyrium esculi. The one pictured above was a female with orange patches on its forewings, although this is not apparently a guaranteed characteristic. Supposedly rare in NW France I saw quite a number within two separate woods, Bois de Caurel and Forêt de Lorge.

The orange lunules on the underside hindwing are bordered black on the outside, not bordered in S. esculi.

Fact File

Satyrium esculi

Quercus Oak

Oak scrub

Early Stages