Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 940247

Great Purple Hairstreak
Atlides halesus

Observation date: December 19, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Was supprised to see this out of its registered season, but always glad to see these. we hunted for these and searched all over every area with mistletoe, then when walking the dog on our normal route we saw a blue flash wow, then saw it land hard to follow very fast flier and high flier either during mating dance or chasing other males away while hill toping. hard to spot when sitting on brush, they hold so very still.warm december day in san clemente orange san diego boarder.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: November 22, 2013
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, California, Orange County