A small but unique and rather attractive arboreal species found throughout Europe in wooded areas. I saw several individuals of the form ibericus (which have paler undersides) in Portugal but in typical hairstreak fashion they spent much of their time in the tree canopy, making them very tricky to photograph. It rarely visits flowers and feeds instead on aphid secretions among the treetops.

Distribution: Most of Europe except northern Britain and northern Scandinavia.

Flight Period: June-September in 1 brood, more frequent in July.

Habitat: Any wooded areas where the larval hostplant oak occurs, including well-established deciduous woodland, dry maquis, woodland clearings, parks and occasionally gardens up to 2000m.

Foodplants: A wide variety of oaks (Quercus).

Nectar Sources: Rarely stops for nectar, preferring to feed on ‘honeydew’ secreted by aphids. It may very occasionally visit brambles (Rubus) and Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum).

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