![Photo: esculi10.jpg](../pics/e/esculi10.jpg)
Burgos, Spain, July 2011
![Photo: esculi4.jpg](../pics/e/esculi4.jpg)
Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
Field notes and information
A butterfly of very hot dry scrub habitats. It is found in Mediterranean habitats and semi-desert regions.
Identification & Similar species: Very similar to the ilex hairstreak, S. ilicis. See that page for more information.
Also similar to the sloe hairstreak, , which has ligher underside ground colour and orange spots confined to the lower half of the hindwing around the tail which often almost merge together.
Distribution & Flight: Southern France, Iberia and north Africa. It is often common where found. In Morocco it is abundant in most places where scrub oaks grow - and that is a very large area indeed in the High and Middle Atlas mountains. It flies in June and July, old specimens are found in August.
Habitat & Behaviour: Flies rapidly around scrub oaks, settling occasionally for nectar.
![Photo: esculi8.jpg](../pics/e/esculi8.jpg)
Var, France, July 2009
![Photo: esculi12.jpg](../pics/e/esculi12.jpg)
Prov. Malaga, Spain, July 2013
![Photo: esculi7.jpg](../pics/e/esculi7.jpg)
Var, France, August 2010
![Photo: esculi5.jpg](../pics/e/esculi5.jpg)
![Photo: esculi2.jpg](../pics/e/esculi2.jpg)
![Photo: esculi3.jpg](../pics/e/esculi3.jpg)
![Photo: esculi1.jpg](../pics/e/esculi1.jpg)
Middle Atlas, Morocco, June 2005
![Photo: esculi11.jpg](../pics/e/esculi11.jpg)
Prov. Malaga, Spain, July 2013
![Photo: esculi9.jpg](../pics/e/esculi9.jpg)
Var, France, July 2009
![Photo: esculi6.jpg](../pics/e/esculi6.jpg)
Var, France, August 2010
![Photo: esculi13.jpg](../pics/e/esculi13.jpg)
Grenada, Spain, July 2013