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 2017 individual was an end-of-season worn individual, and so we can ignore that date, but looking at 2018-2024 an “average first sighting” was June 6th (range May 21st to June 13th). That is a very frustrating range of dates for anyone studying this species.
Black Hairstreaks congregate in “Master Trees” and at Ditchling Common they are found in Oak trees. This species feed on honeydew, and if this is abundant in the tree canopy there is no particular need for them to descend to lower levels. When they do occasionally 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, and it is not unusual for there to be an abundance one year, but scarce, the next. It also has a short/very short flight-period and given these various factors it means that a small colony can be very easily 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
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Feeding on Umbellifer - photo by Kirsty Gibbs
Feeding on Bramble blossom - Sussex BC website photo
At rest - Sussex BC website photo
Butterfly Conservation Black Hairstreak
