Wildlife

UK White-Letter Hairstreak Butterfly and Elm

Conservation of the white-letter hairstreak butterfly and its dependence on elm trees following Dutch elm disease.

Key Facts

White-letter hairstreaks are almost entirely dependent on elm as their larval food plant
Dutch elm disease killed most large elms in the UK in the 1970s
Populations persist on suckers of surviving and resistant elm in hedgerows
Wych elm in upland areas remains relatively resistant and supports populations
UK Elm Conservation Group works to restore elm and associated wildlife

Welfare Considerations

Individual white-letter hairstreak larvae depend entirely on elm foliage, with elm conservation and disease management directly determining larval survival.

What You Can Do

Support the UK Elm Conservation Group and elm planting programmes
Record white-letter hairstreak sightings to assist population monitoring
Advocate for Dutch elm disease-resistant elm in public planting programmes