Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 940375

Great Purple Hairstreak
Atlides halesus

Observation date: November 24, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: female great purple hairstreak. low temp 38 high 62 clear cold night clouded up into a mostly cloudy day this female was tucked into a bunch of mistletoe about arms length above my head. Diane gently and slowly pulled branch down to where i could see and photo graph this female. note missing blue scales at boarder of hind wing and fore wing. She just crawled around giving me different angles, think she wanted to try to hide but she put on quite a show. Rubbing her wings together exposing the beautiful bright blue of the inner wings at tail area when wings overlapped. once i found this butterfly for the first time i knew i was hooked looking for butterfly's , mistletoe is the larva's food plant. lots of it growing in Mesquite trees in Anza Borrego desert state park. all features protected. Please take only photo's and leave only footprints. Preserve these amazing wonders for future generations.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: November 26, 2013
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, California, San Diego County