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Species Detail

Gray Ministreak

Ministrymon azia (Hewitson, 1873)

JPG -- species photo

Attributes of Ministrymon azia


Family: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae)

Subfamily: Hairstreaks (Theclinae)

Identification: Tiny; tailed. Wings gray; underside hindwing with narrow postmedian line of orange bordered with white.

Life history: Females lay eggs on flower buds, which the caterpillars eat.

Flight: March-September in Florida and Texas; throughout the year in most of the tropics.

Wing span: 5/8 - 15/16 inch (1.6 - 2.4 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Mimosa malacophylla in lower Rio Grande Valley; Leucaena leucocephala and wild tamarind (Lysiloma bahamensis) in southern Florida.

Adult food: Seen nectaring at Leucaena leucocephala, Melilotus alba, Cynoglossum amabile, Bidens alba, Turnera ulmifolia, Mimosa pudica, and Acacia species.

Habitat: Subtropical thorn scrub.

Range: Brazil through Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies to South Texas, southern Florida, and the Keys.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

Documented Records for Ministrymon azia



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