Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1198726

Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus

Observation date: October 23, 2018
Submitted by: zencoyote
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Up until November, this individual shared the same space as the Monarchs, Fritillaries, Sulphurs, and Blues in a fallow stretch under powerlines in a residential community. It could always be found in this one large bush with several Blues, adjacent to a Lemon tree in the nearby residential backyard. It disappeared in November. This was the first time I noticed a butterfly rubbing its hind-wings to generate a curious motion of the tails. But he sat for this great shot.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: January 28, 2019
Coordinator notes: Pretty normal behavior for this species-Ken Davenport
Checklist region(s): United States, California, San Diego County