False ilex hairstreak - Satyrium esculi

Family: Lycaenidae Flight Time: May-August Size: 30-34mm Altitude: 500-1300m

Very similar to the Ilex hairstreak Satyrium ilicis see the other page for a comparison. I saw a very large number of these in the Pyrenées, they were flocking together on single flower heads, sometimes a dozen at a time.

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

© All pictures in these pages copyright to Simon Coombes. Permission must be sought and obtained for any use.