Life
Cycle of the Green
Hairstreak
Ovum:
The glassy light-green egg is
spheroidal and flattened, with a diameter of c.0.65
mm. It is laid singly on
the flower bud or in the axils of young leaf shoots of the food
plant in May and June. Its colour darkens
slightly after a few days and hatches in 8-10 days.
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© DHardiman
2010 |
Larva:
The adult larva is wood-louse shaped, the body being broad and plump becoming
flattened at the extremities
and strongly indented between the segments. It is green with a dark
mediodorsal stripe from which radiate
oblique lemon yellow markings from the third segment backwards. A small
dorsal gland is present on the 7th
segment and there are yellow spiracular spots. The head is shiny brown and
partially withdraws into the body
when at rest. Larvae can be found from May to mid-July. It
is known to cannibalise other young and mature
larvae of its own species that it encounters.
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© DHardiman 2002 |
Pupa:
Pupation takes place, at the end of July, beneath its food plant near to the ground under moss
and leaves .
It remains there overwintering
until the following May.
Whether it lies freely or is supported by a silken girdle is uncertain.
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© DHardiman 2002 |
Adult:
The adult emerges at the end of April and is in flight until
July.
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© DHardiman
2006 |
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© DHardiman
2008 |
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