Gray Hairstreak, Common Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)

Order: Lepidoptera (le-pid-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Strymon (STRY-mon) (Info) Species: melinus Profile: No positives 2 neutrals No negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: Deer, Arkansas Marion, Arkansas Canoga Park, California Palm Bay, Florida Wauchula, Florida Benton, Kentucky Elephant Butte, New Mexico Glouster, Ohio Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Gold Hill, Oregon Oreland, Pennsylvania Summerville, South Carolina Edinburg, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Harker Heights, Texas Houston, Texas Keller, Texas Lufkin, Texas San Antonio, Texas (2 reports) San Isidro, Texas Spring, Texas Reston, Virginia Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Neutral melody On Jul 24, 2006, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: As pretty as this little fellow is, the caterpillar is very destructive to farm crops. Especially, beans and hops. Wingspan of 1 1/8",this butterfly is found from southern Canada through Mexico. Neutral Scorpioangel On Jul 26, 2006, Scorpioangel from Gold Hill, OR (Zone 7a) wrote: Identification: One tail on hindwing. Upperside blue-gray with large red spot near tail. Underside of spring/fall form is dark gray, summer form is paler gray. Relatively straight postmedian line is white, bordered with orange on the inside edge. Caterpillar hosts: Flowers and fruits from an almost endless variety of plants; most often from pea (Fabaceae) and mallow (Malvaceae) families including beans (Phaseolus), clovers (Trifolium), cotton (Gossypium), and mallow (Malva). Adult food: Nectar from many flower species including dogbane, milkweed, mint, winter cress, goldenrod, tick trefoil, and white sweet clover. Habitat: Open, nonforested sites; common in disturbed, weedy areas. Range: Throughout continental United States from southern Canada south to Mexico; southward to Venezuela. Comments: The most widespread hairstreak in North America. Males perch all afternoon on small trees and shrubs to seek receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers of host plant. Young caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits; older ones may eat leaves. Chrysalids hibernate. Caterpillars may cause economic damage to bean and cotton crops. Wing span: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.2 - 3.5 cm).

By melody By Vee8ch By Vee8ch By Vee8ch By Scorpioangel By okus By kennedyh There are a total of 26 photos. Click here to view them all!