Family: Lycaenidae, Gossamer-wing Butterflies view all from this family

Description 1-1 3/8" (25-35 mm). Warm brown-black above, buff-brown below. Some populations have orange-red flush to FW above. Very wide, disjointed dark bands, bordered by white, boldly mark underside. Blue and orange near tail.

Similar Species Banded, Hickory, King's, and Edwards' hairstreaks all have much narrower bands below.

Life Cycle Grass-green caterpillar striped lengthwise with yellow. Host plants are oaks (Quercus), willows (Salix), hollies (Ilex), blueberries (Vaccinium), various plums (Prunus), hawthorn (Crataegus), and others, especially members of rose family (Rosaceae). Chrysalis mottled.

Flight 1 brood; July-early August.

Habitat Deciduous woodlands, old fields, hedgerows and thickets, disturbed spots; lower elevation mountain canyons in West.

Range S. Alberta and Maritimes south to Colorado, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Florida.

Discussion The Striped Hairstreak has very broad tastes and an extensive range yet it is not common. Apparently this butterfly shifts its colonies about from year to year. Striped Hairstreaks remain high in the treetops deep within prickly hawthorn thickets or take nectar from milkweed or white dogbane.