- Family: Lycaenidae
- Scientific name: Neozephyrus quercus (Linnaeus 1758)
- English common name: Purple Hairstreak
- Spanish common name: Nazarena
The Purple Hairstreak – Neozephyrus quercus – Nazarena is fairly small butterfly that occasionally shows the upper wings, which in the males are iridescent purple, while those of the female are brown with a purple patch on the forewing. The under wings carry the characteristic white line of the hairstreaks on a grey ground colour. There are two orange spots on the hind wing edge, the upper one with a black centre. There are very short tail streamers.
The caterpillars of this species grow up to 2.5cm in length, they are mixed shades of brown with a darker dorsal line and prominent lateral ridges.
- Wing size: 24-28mm
- Altitude: Sea level to 2000m
- Flight time: June-September
- Over-wintering: Caterpillar
- Caterpillar food plant: Oak (Quercus sp.)
- Distribution: Most of Europe
Similar species: Spanish Purple Hairstreak (Laeosopis roboris) These lack the fine white lines and have a broad orange band on the wing edge, not the orange spots.
Butterflies of Iberia. These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia. Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.
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