| Actual Image
Linnaean Misnomer (68)
Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (24333) | In 1758 Linnaeus named the Brown Hairstreak (Thecla betulae) after ‘betula’ for Birch.
As he must have seen it flying around a birch he must have assumed that birch was its larval host plant, but our great pioneer classifier of flora and fauna was wrong!
The brown hairstreak does fly around various bushes and trees, especially those that have been invaded by aphids that leave their sugary excretions, or honey-dew on the leaves. Several species of hairstreak are attracted to honeydew, including the Brown hairstreak.
In fact the larval host plant is Sloe (Prunus spinosa). This is a female, told by her brighter orange colour on the underside of the wings and by the fact that the forewings have a large orange patch that is lacking is the male (see WORKSHOP).
We were looking for just this species on oak, as they usually seek oak to feed on honeydew and though we did see several, they were too far away to photograph well. Instead I found this female on her host plant, sloe.
The Brown Hairstreak is called ’Eldsnabbvinge’ in Swedish, meaning ‘fire hairstreak’ owing to the flame colours of the underside of the wings. It is widespread and locally common in most of Europe, including S. Sweden.
This was taken at a distance of about 1.8 meters (6ft) with the camera hand-held. After moderate cropping and size reduction the image was selectively sharpened. |
|
