2005 : The hairstreaks

The Sussex Green Hairstreak records show that this species is the most commonly recorded of our Hairstreaks and that it is frequently found on the South Downs and around the area of Laughton Common and Vert Woods. It probably has a wider distribution than we recognise. There is a single brood during May and June.

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Many recorders have taken to searching for the eggs of the Brown Hairstreak as a surveying tool as a result of which we show that this species occurs across a swathe of West Sussex with a flight season between August and September. Where the seasonal calendar shows records in October, November and December, these refer to eggs found on Blackthorn twigs. Nationally, this species appears to be in serious decline.

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Seemingly a butterfly of the Weald, the Purple Hairstreak is neither common nor rare. With a single brood, it appeared somewhat irregularly in 2003 but produced good broods in both 2004 and 2005. As a canopy dweller, it is probably under represented in our records. 

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The White-letter Hairstreak was only recorded twice in 2005 although, as the historical records show, it has enjoyed a fairly wide coastal distribution between Bosham and Eastbourne (where it was recorded on the window of a member’s girlfriend!). However, there appear to be certain well-known colonies, such as those in Brighton, Hove, Eastbourne and Littlehampton about which we have heard very little and our recent records are probably quite unrepresentative of the actual situation.

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