This is a fairly small butterfly with a grey / brown ground colour to the under wings, which may carry a broken white line. The hind edge may also carry orangey / red spots. The brown upper wings are rarely revealed. This species favours areas of maquis with low growing oaks.
The caterpillars of this species can grow up to 2cm long and are green, tapered towards the tail.

Family: Lycaenidae
Scientific name: Satyrium esculi (Hübner 1804) (Nordmannia esculi)
English common name: False Ilex Hairstreak
Spanish common name: Querquera

Wing size: 30-34mm
Altitude: 500-1300m
Flight time: May-August
Over-wintering: Caterpillar, remaining in egg
Caterpillar food plant: Low growing Oaks (Quercus sp.)
Distribution: Iberia, southern France

Similar species: Ilex Hairstreak (Satyrium ilicis) which has a darker, richer brown ground colour.

Butterflies of Iberia
These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia.
Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

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