| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Theclinae |
| Genus: | Favonius |
| Species: | quercus |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
This handsome butterfly is widely distributed throughout southern areas wherever there are oak trees; even a solitary tree may support a colony. It is frequently overlooked as adults remain largely in the canopy where the main adult food source is honeydew; they fly more commonly in the evening of a warm summer's day. They are only driven down to seek fluid and nectar during prolonged drought, as occurred in 1995-6.
| #Records | #Individuals | Earliest Record | Latest Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Records | 5,934 | 16,951 | 31/05/2010 | 25/09/2003 |
| 2023 | 183 | 445 | 14/6/2023 | 2/9/2023 |
| Site | Date | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest | Christchurch | 14/6/2023 | 1 |
| Latest | Basing Wood transect: Section 3 | 2/9/2023 | 1 |
| Max Count | Abbotts Wood Inclosure | 7/7/2023 | 50 |
