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Friday 10 April 2015

A-Z Challenge 2015 - Butterflies 'H'

I have reposted H today because some people have said that they could not see the post although 27 people had visited the post. Kirstin and Maria have commented, but I haven't been able to add their comments into this second post. Hope not too many of you are as confused as I am.

H - Green Hairstreak; Large Heath

If you are almost bald like me colouring you hair will not improve matters. However for one butterfly with dull brown upper wings - 


Hairstreak
it's amazing what a dash of colour does to its appearance.

Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
when the underside is a bright green. This specimen may be misshapen but there is no mistaking the colour that gives it its name 

It never rests with its wings open in order to maintain that green camouflage.

Green Hairstreak on rough grassland
The Green Hairstreak has a wide range of food plants including bramble, rock rose, gorse and broom. Its habitats are equally wide - chalk downland, heathland, moorland, woods and even wetlands


The Large Heath butteflies always have their wings closed when at rest

Large Heath butterfly (Coenonympha tullia)
The males are smoky orange in colour. The pale brown underside has a creamy white band and a number of eyespots. Sometimes know as the Common Ringlet the number of spots varies from colony to colony.

You will need waterproof footwear when looking for the Large Heath in the North of the British Isles - it's unique in that it is more or less confined to boggy areas.


Love is like a butterfly
As soft and gentle as a sigh
The multicolored moods of love are like its satin wings
Love makes your heart feel strange inside
It flutters like soft wings in flight
Love is like a butterfly, a rare and gentle thing

I feel it when you're with me
It happens when you kiss me
That rare and gentle feeling that I feel inside


Photo attributions:
  • Green Hairstreak - upper wings; up-loaded to CC by Lymantria - free use
  • Green Hairstreak: Ryton Meaodows 27 May 2012 - upload by Amamda44, by Mike Darlow - CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Green Hairstreak on rough grassland: 2 May 2004, by Dave Dunford - CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Large Heath; Methop Moss, 27 June 2014, by Steve Childs (Flickr) - CC BY 2.0

7 comments:

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Love the name of the first one, Hairstreak, Could do with a bit of that in my grey hair

Unknown said...

How very sad that we rarely see a butterfly in Shropshire, although we are a rural county. The land is devoted to crop growing, so maybe it is the effect of the insecticides.

Gail said...

I like the surprise of color. Beautiful. I think it's a good day when I learn something new.

Thanks for visiting. We call those grape hyacinths. I love seeing a patch of them.

I, sadly, am old enough to remember when cameras and tvs were only black and white.

Have a wonderful day.

Bish Denham said...

Oh the green hairstreak is beautiful!

21 Wits said...

Oh my, your green Hairstreak is just fabulous, what a beauty!

Jo said...

Gorgeous colour green.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bob - how interesting to see they always rest up with their wings closed - beautiful colours - both the green and heath - they do so blend in ...

Cheers Hilary