White Letter Hairstreak (Satyrium w-album)

White-letter Hairtreak is a difficult to spot species, as it spends much of it’s time in the canopy of trees, particularly Elms.  It occasionally comes down to ground level to nectar on flowers, especially privet and bramble.   The species declined nationally in the 1970s and 1980s when its foodplants were reduced by Dutch Elm disease, but it is recovering in a few areas.  The adult butterflies are on the wing during July and August and can be distinguished from other Hairstreaks by it’s distinctive white ‘W’ shaped streak on it’s underwing.