Sloe Hairstreak

Satyrium acaciae (Fabricius, 1787)

Status

Description

A small dark brown butterfly. Male and female are similar, although the females are slightly larger and have a few orange spots on the hindwing upperside. The butterfly has one brood a year. It can be easily confused with other members of the genus. The tail on the hindwing is indistinct which helps separate it from other members of the genus. On the underside, the postdiscal white line (hairstreak) forms a linear curve. Females have a distinctive black 'cap' to their abdomens.

Habitat Requirements

We know very little about the ecology of this species, see observations, but presumably it is found in scrubby habitat.

Larval Foodplants

Blackthorn/Sloe Prunus spinosa.

Observations

An easily overlooked butterfly because it looks superficially similar to the Ilex Hairstreak.

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Sloe Hairstreak submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2023 09/06/2023 04/07/2023 25 days
2022 30/05/2022 08/06/2022 9 days
2021 18/05/2021 10/06/2021 23 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 11
2022 28
2021 24
Grand Total 63

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Sloe Hairstreak (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023

Flight Times for the Sloe Hairstreak (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month since 1st January 2021

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Sloe Hairstreak
  • Family: Lycaenidae (Leach, 1815)
  • Sub-family: Theclinae (Swainson 1831)
  • Tribe: Eumaeini (Doubleday 1847)
  • Genus: Satyrium (Scudder, 1876)
  • Sub-genus: Satyrium (Scudder, 1876)
  • Species: acaciae (Fabricius, 1787)

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.