- Family: Lycaenidae
- Scientific name: Laeosopis roboris
- English common name: Spanish Purple Hairstreak
- Spanish common name: Moradilla del Fresno
The Spanish Purple Hairstreak – Laeosopis roboris – Moradilla del Fresno is a fairly small butterfly that is most often high up in the trees, although luckily it does come down to ground level in order to feed off nectar. The under wings are grey / brown with a strong orange border. There are metallic blue and black markings inside this border that are most striking on the hind wing. The upper wings are purple with a wide, almost black band.
The caterpillars of this species are small, grey / brown and somewhat similar to a wood lice in the shape of their backs.
- Wing size: 3.8-4cm
- Altitude: up to 1,500m
- Flight time: May to July
- Over-wintering: Caterpillar, remaining in egg
- Caterpillar food plant: Fraxinus excelsior
- Distribution: Iberia, southern France
Similar species: Purple Hairstreak (Neozephyrus quercus) which has fine white lines mid wing and two 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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