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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
This little butterfly is easily overlooked due to its colouration. The upper sides of its wings are brown but this is rarely seen since the Green Hairstreak always closes its wings when not in flight. The green undersides are a vivid iridescent metallic green often edged in tan brown with white spots forming a feint white 'streak' on the hind wings. The extent of the white marking is highly variable and on some individuals almost absent.
Its flight is rapid and jerky making it difficult to follow although territorial males often return to the same perch while the females are more often seen when searching for larval food plants upon which to lay their eggs.
The female lays single pale green eggs into buds of the larval food plants in early summer. The green and yellow larvae drop to the ground to pupate in late summer and overwinter as a pupae with the Adult butterflies emerging in late spring.
Habitat
The Green Hairstreak is found on calcareous grassland scrubby grassland woodland rides and clearings heathland moorland, bogs, old quarries and railway cuttings.
Larval Food Plants
The larvae of the Green Hairstreak feed on a variety of plant species depending upon the habitat.
Calcareous Grassland
Rockrose (Helianthemum nummularium) and Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatis).
Heathland
Gorse (Ulex europeaus) Broom (Cytisus scoparius) and Dyer's Greenweed (Genista tinctoria).
Sutton Park nr Birmingham
Cowberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) and Crowberry (Empetrium nigrum) may also be used as larval foodplants here although this is to be confirmed.
Moorland in Scotland
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).
Other food plants used include Dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) Cross-leaved Heath (Erica tetralix), and Bramble (Rubus fruticosus). |
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 19 photographs of the Green Hairstreak in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1637 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1636 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1571 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1344 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1343 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1342 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1341 - Green Hairstreak
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BB1340 - Green Hairstreak
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| Distribution |
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The Green Hairstreak is an increasingly localised species but widely distributed throughout Britain. It is widespread in the South-west but often occurs in small discrete colonies throughout the rest of Britain where the habitat allows. At some sites, the Green Hairstreak may be found in large numbers while most sites may support only small numbers with only the odd individual being seen. It must be noted however that due to the nature of this butterfly, its colouration and behaviour, it is a butterfly which is easily overlooked and in some localities may be more common than it first appears.
Keep an eye out for Green Hairstreak on limestone (calcareous) sites where Rockrose or Bird's-foot Trefoil grow, especialy in southern Britain. Further north, heathland sites where Gorse, Broom or Dyers Greenweed occur may support a colony while in Scotland, visit moorland where Bilberry occurs. |
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| Where to see the Green Hairstreak |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Green Hairstreak is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -25% |
(1976-2004) down by -25% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Green Hairstreak can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 7 named aberrant forms of the Green Hairstreak. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. bipunctata - Tutt (1907) |
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| ab. brunnea - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. caecus - Geoffroy (1785) |
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| ab. cinerascens - Rebel (1910) |
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| ab. incompleta - Tutt (1907) |
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| ab. inferopunctata - Tutt (1907) |
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| ab. punctata - Tutt (1907) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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27-34mm
