Ilex Hairstreak (satyrium ilicis) and False Ilex Hairstreak (satyrium esculi)
2008 photos highlighted green. Click on any photo to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.
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| 6970_female?_Var_14Jun07 - esculi | 11060_male?_Bouche du Rhone_4Jun08 - esculi | 11072_female?_Bouche du Rhone_4Jun08 - esculi |
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| 11133_male?_Bouche du Rhone_4Jun08 - esculi | 7162_female_Var_19Jun07 - esculi | 1113_male_Var_26May06 - ilicis |
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| 2496_female_Var_8Jul06 - ilicis | 11003_female?_Var_1Jun08 - ilicis |
These two species co-exist in my local sites and in June the satyrium species emerge in large numbers, literally in thousands, and appear to be mostly esculi, which can be exceptionally abundant. They are quite sedentary and can be missed, even in large numbers, but once you've seen them, you start to notice that they're everywhere, with three or four individuals were sitting on almost every flower head. They are strongly attracted to the yellow flowers of helichrysum species, as are acaciae and spini, abundant in southern Var in June.
The ilicis unh lunules are more orange-red than red and have a clear black external edging and sometimes a slight white edging as well. The uns post-discal white line is usually irregular, strong and almost unbroken. In esculi the unh lunules are darker red with black internal edging but no black external edging, and the uns post-discal white line is weak and sometimes incomplete and if it extends to the unf, is quite weak. The difference in colour (red of esculi c.f. the orange-red of ilicis) seems to hold true in my local patch, but I'm not sure if this is generally true. The esculi lunules usually seem to be thinner than ilicis.
The unh marginal white line seems to be stronger in ilicis, strongest at the base, while for esculi it is weaker and may not extend past s3 or s4.
6970: esculi: I suspect this may be a female, based on the slightly longer tail (males are slightly shorter), the apparently rounded body shape, and the very slightly more rounded forewing outer margin, but these are very slender clues. Altitude 60m.
11060: esculi: possibly a male based on the shorted tail and forewing margin straightness. Altitude 35m.
11072: esculi: possibly a female based on the longer tail and forewing margin curvature. Altitude 35m.
11133: esculi: possibly a male based on the shorted tail and forewing margin straightness. Altitude 35m.
7162: esculi: a female, identifiable for certain by the clearly-visible body shape. The tails are also quite long and the forewing margin looks clearly curved. Altitude 20m.
1113: ilicis: a strong and rather irregular unh white post-discal line, a strong white unh marginal line and clear white internal edging to the lunules. The lunules are only lightly black edged internally and externally. I'm guessing it's a male based on its territorial pose. Altitude 185m.
2496: ilicis: this poor individual had been seized by a crab spider (a frequent occurrence, I find), but it did have the effect of revealing the ups which would not otherwise be seen as these species always rest with closed wings. I believe that 2496 is a female (I'm guessing this based on the extent of the orange patch) of the form cerri which has extensive orange patches on the upf. Altitude 800m.
11003: ilicis: I'm guessing a female, based on the apparently longer tails, slight forewing curvature and stronger post-discal line, but it's hardly conclusive. Altitude 185m.
6970_sex?_Var_14Jun07 - esculi
11060_sex?_Bouche du Rhone_4Jun08 - esculi
11072_sex?_Bouche du Rhone_4Jun08 - esculi
11133_sex?_Bouche du Rhone_4Jun08 - esculi
7162_female_Var_19Jun07 - esculi
1113_male_Var_26May06 - ilicis
2496_female_Var_8Jul06 - ilicis
11003_sex?_Var_1Jun08 - ilicis
