Hairstreaks - Butterflies of the Sabinal River Valley

Hairstreaks

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Hairstreaks are an often fancy group of smaller butterflies. They have tails which break off with wear, but when fresh, they have neat little tails. Most are about .75", less than an inch long. Some are colorful, others gray and brown.

(Southern) Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius) are common here.

Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici). Elfin are an odd sub-group among hairstreaks, only one type is found here. It is a nickel-sized beauty and one of the first new butterflies to fly in spring. Their flight season is over and they are mostly done flying for the year by mid-April here, only about eight weeks total as a flying adult. Larval foodplants are Spanish Buckeye and Redbud. They are usually found on one of those, and on Agarita (Texas Holly) as here.

"Spring" - Henry's Elfin on Redbud

Here is a Clytie Ministreak (Ministrymon clytie), Aug. 18, 2020, on Snow-on-the-Mountain in our driveway. A Mexican species, generally in the U.S. a deep south Texas brush country specialty, extremely rare on the Edwards Plateau. This image is about 10 times life size which is about a dime. An accidental rare vagrant here.

One of five Dusky-blue Groundstreak that came into a nightlight for bugs after dark June 23. Sometimes butterflies are attracted to lights at night. Have to check year, I think 2019.

Dusky-blue Groundstreak (Calycopis isobeon)

Olive-Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa)

Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)

Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) is our biggest fanciest hairstreak. Above dorsal surface is neon metallic indigo blue. But you can only see that when it is in flight. Seems a crime!

Great Purple Hairstreak, female with no blue on underwing.

Great Purple Hairstreak, male. Note blue band on ventral forewing. This is the color of the dorsal surface, the great purple, which is blue. And which is only seen in flight as it perches with wings together.