Here’s a full overview of the Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi), one of Europe’s most widespread and easily recognized hairstreak butterflies:

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Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Taxonomy & Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Lycaenidae (blues, coppers, hairstreaks)
• Genus: Callophrys
• Species: C. rubi

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General Description

The Green Hairstreak is a small butterfly with a vivid green underside, making it one of the most distinctive spring butterflies across Europe.

• Wingspan: 25–30 mm.
• Upperside: Brown, rarely seen as the butterfly almost always rests with wings closed.
• Underside: Bright emerald-green with faint white streaks or spots.
• Sexual Dimorphism: Minimal; males and females look very similar.
• Flight: Fast and skipping, often darting between perches and host plants.

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Behavior & Lifestyle

• Activity: Diurnal; basks in sunny, sheltered spots.
• Flight Period: Usually April–June (one brood per year), but can vary by latitude.
• Feeding (Adults): Nectar from gorse, buttercups, hawthorn, bird’s-foot trefoil, and many spring flowers.
• Territoriality: Males often perch on bushes or grass stems, defending small territories and waiting for females.
• Resting Posture: Keeps wings closed, showing only the green underside—excellent camouflage against foliage.

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Reproduction & Life Cycle

1. Eggs: Laid singly on flower buds of host plants.
2. Caterpillars: Green with faint striping, blending into host plants. Feed on leaves, buds, or flowers.
3. Host Plants: Very varied, including gorse, broom, bird’s-foot trefoil, bilberry, buckthorn, bramble, and clovers.
4. Pupation: Forms a chrysalis in leaf litter or soil; overwinters in this stage.
5. Adults: Emerge in spring; live for a few weeks.

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Habitat

• Prefers sunny, sheltered habitats such as:
  • Heathlands
  • Grasslands
  • Scrubland
  • Woodland clearings and edges
  • Coastal dunes and slopes

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Geographic Range

• Widely distributed across Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
• In Europe: from the British Isles across central and northern Europe, south into the Mediterranean, and east through temperate Asia to Siberia and Mongolia.

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Ecological Role

• Pollinator: Adults visit a wide variety of spring wildflowers.
• Prey: Caterpillars are eaten by birds, spiders, and predatory insects.
• Host Plant Link: Supports heathland and scrub ecosystems by depending on diverse shrubs and legumes.

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Special Adaptations

• Green coloration of the wing underside provides perfect camouflage against foliage.
• Wing-closing behavior hides the brown upperside, enhancing concealment.
• Wide host plant range allows it to survive in many habitats.

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Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
• Population: Stable across much of its range.
• Threats:
  • Loss of heathland and scrub habitats due to agriculture and development.
  • Overgrazing of meadows and scrub removal.
• Still considered common and adaptable.

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Interesting Facts

• One of the earliest hairstreaks to appear in spring.
• The only green butterfly in much of Europe—making it easy to recognize.
• In flight, the flash of brown upperside is rarely seen, adding to its secretive character.
• Its Latin name rubi refers to brambles (Rubus), one of its many host plants.

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