PURPLE HAIRSTREAK Neozephyrus quercus
There is no doubt that this butterfly is vastly more widely distributed and numerous than the maps indicate; this is soleley due to its non-apparency because of its treetop habits. It is probably worth keeping a watchful eye on any mature Oak trees in July, though a suggestion a few years ago by M. Catt, in Devon, that N. quercus might be the commonest butterfly in Britain, sems to me however to be stretching credibility a little too far. A seeming increase in numbers in 2011 was probably due to climatic conditions that year being more conducive to the butterflies' flying and coming down to lower levels.
THE THREE PERIODS COMPARED
PERIOD 1 (1940-1994) WITH RECORDING COVERAGE, ALTITUDE AND URBAN COVER
PERIOD 2 (1995-2000) WITH RECORDING COVERAGE, ALTITUDE AND URBAN COVER
PERIOD 3 (2001-2007) WITH RECORDING COVERAGE, ALTITUDE AND URBAN COVER
