White-letter Hairstreak
White-letter Hairsteaks are definitely one of Britain's scarcer butterflies that most people would only see by making a special effort to find them. I usually spot this elusive hairstreak fluttering around the canopy of Elm Trees, but occasionally I can find one at photographable elevations, like this one. In common with Black and Green Hairstreaks it never basks with its wings open. I photographed this one nectaring on Hogweed not far from the village of Shepley in West Yorkshire.
White-letter Hairstreak was the original butterfly to which the name "hair streak" was applied by James Petiver in 1703. The scientific name Satyrium is named after the Satyrs in Greek mythology. Satyrs are associated with the worship of Bacchus, and are often depicted with horns and the rear-end of a goat (like Mr Tumnus the "Fawn" in C S Lewis's Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Satyrs engaged in spritely dances with the Nymphs and it is thought the name Satyrium was given because of its lively flight. W-album is purely descriptive of the white (albus) letter W, which gives rise to its current vernacular name.
White-letter Hairstreak
White-letter Hairsteaks are definitely one of Britain's scarcer butterflies that most people would only see by making a special effort to find them. I usually spot this elusive hairstreak fluttering around the canopy of Elm Trees, but occasionally I can find one at photographable elevations, like this one. In common with Black and Green Hairstreaks it never basks with its wings open. I photographed this one nectaring on Hogweed not far from the village of Shepley in West Yorkshire.
White-letter Hairstreak was the original butterfly to which the name "hair streak" was applied by James Petiver in 1703. The scientific name Satyrium is named after the Satyrs in Greek mythology. Satyrs are associated with the worship of Bacchus, and are often depicted with horns and the rear-end of a goat (like Mr Tumnus the "Fawn" in C S Lewis's Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Satyrs engaged in spritely dances with the Nymphs and it is thought the name Satyrium was given because of its lively flight. W-album is purely descriptive of the white (albus) letter W, which gives rise to its current vernacular name.