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Satyrium ilicis

Ilex Hairstreak

Valais, Switzerland, June 2008

Valais, Switzerland, June 2009

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Macedonia, Greece, July 2004

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Valais, Switzerland, June 2006

Valais, Switzerland, June 2005

A rare species in Switzerland.

Provence, France, June 2003

Samos, Greece, June 2002

Samos, Greece, June 2002

This is a widespread species of southern and central Europe but absent from most of Spain and North Africa. It is often abundant where it flies amongst forests of its foodplant - scrub Oak. Usually it likes hot dry places but may be found in clearings in damper forests further north in its range.

There is a very similar species, the False Ilex Hairstreak, Satyrium esculi which flies in S France, Iberia and N Africa. Generally in esculi:

the white line is finer and appears broken but more regular
the orange markings are smaller, brighter and red (little hint of orange), clearly lined black internally but without any black on the outer site of the red spots
hindwing marginal white line is narrow or absent
is more southern in distribution where it flies in similar very hot habitats