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Field Notes

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. I don't have any photos of this species but generally in esculi:

• the white line is finer

• the orange markings are smaller, brighter and redder, clearly lined black internally and possibly externally too

• hindwing marginal white line is narrow or absent

• an the orange less bold and lined on both sides by a fine black line in most places

• is more southern in distribution where it flies in similar very hot habitats

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