Satyrium pruni
The Black Hairstreak colony at Ditchling Common Country Park was discovered by David Cook on 17/06/2017. A few years later at the same location, David also found a White-letter Hairstreak, which meant that all five British hairstreak species have been recorded at this site.
The first Black Hairstreak adults emerge in the first half of June. At Ditchling Common they use Oak as their “Master Trees”. Their diet is mainly honeydew and if this is abundant in the tree canopy there is no requirement for them to descend to lower levels. When they do venture down they are usually found on Bracken, where they will obligingly pose for a photograph.
This species is notorious for the ebbs and flows of their colonies. One year they can be abundant, the next year they can scarcely be found. They also have a short/very short flight-period and given these various factors it means that a small colony can very easily be over-looked.
Ditchling Common Country Park is the only location, in Sussex, where there is a known colony of this rare hairstreak species. There is a large car park situated on Folders Lane East at the southern end of the Park. The map reference for the car park is TQ335181.
Black Hairstreak resting on Bracken – photo by David Cook
Resting on Bracken – photo by David Cook
Nectaring on Blackberry blossom – photo by David Cook
A mating pair – photo by David Cook
Resting on Bracken – photo by John Williams
Nectaring on Blackberry blossom – photo by John Williams
Butterfly Conservation Black Hairstreak
