Black Hairstreak
Common NameBlack Hairstreak
Scientific NameSatyrium pruni
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)33
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, orange, white
HabitatWoodland clearings, hedgerows, scrubland, often near Blackthorn thickets
Geographic RangeEurope (from UK to Russia), parts of Asia (Siberia, Korea, Japan)
Host PlantsPrunus spinosa (Blackthorn)
Flight PeriodLate May to early July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnivoltine, with eggs laid singly on Blackthorn twigs in summer, overwintering until spring. Larvae feed on Blackthorn leaves, pupating on the ground or in leaf litter before adults emerge in early summer.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its uniformly dark dorsal wings (lacking orange patches found in similar species) and the specific pattern of orange spots and a white line on the dark brown underside of the hindwings. Small, delicate tails are present on the hindwings.
Description
A small, dark brown butterfly with a uniform blackish-brown dorsal surface. The ventral side is dark brown with a distinctive row of bright orange spots and a thin white line on the hindwings.
