A small butterfly with a green underside and dark brown upperside. The butterfly usually rests on bushes with its wings closed which enables it to be quite distinctive, although difficult to spot without movement. The underside can have a series of white spots on the hindwing. Male and female are similar. It has one brood a year. The green underside is quite distinctive and can’t be confused with any other species.
Found in a variety of habitats, most frequently maquis or garrigue. Usually found as singletons, except where nectar rich flowers are grown (see observations).
Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus - not on Corfu, Rhamnus alaternus, Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica - not on Corfu, Rhamnus lycioides, Cornelian Cherry Cornus mas, Dogwood Cornus sanguinea, Arbutus andrachne, Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo, Mediterranean Kidney Vetch Anthyllis vulneraria subsp. rubriflora, Chamaecytisus hirsutus, Broom Cytisus scoparius - not on Corfu, Cytisus villosus, Dorycnium Dorycnium hirsutum, Genista acanthoclada, Genista sylvestris, Rubus canescens, Rubus sanctus.
A highly territorial spring butterfly that shows a polyphagous (feeding on many different plants) approach to host plant utilisation. A very photogenic species, which as John Denne demonstrated can easily be attracted to gardens, in considerable abundances, by planting large numbers of the tall growing spikes of Echium candicans (Blue Spires).
*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Green Hairstreak submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.
Year | First | Last/latest | # Days |
---|---|---|---|
2023 | 19/03/2023 | 06/06/2023 | 79 days |
2022 | 23/03/2022 | 26/05/2022 | 64 days |
2021 | 11/03/2021 | 17/05/2021 | 67 days |
Year | Number of observations |
---|---|
2023 | 160 |
2022 | 224 |
2021 | 52 |
Grand Total | 436 |
The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023 submitted online since 1st January 2023 to 8th June 2023.
The chart below shows flight data by month based on all data submitted online since 1st January 2019 to 8th June 2023.
For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.