Great Purple Hairstreak
Atlides halesus (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Hindwing with one short and one long tail. Abdomen is blue on top, red-orange beneath. Upperside black with wide-spread iridescent blue. Underside black with iridescent gold markings near tails.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch on treetops or other tall objects in the afternoon, watching for receptive females. Caterpillars eat leaves and male flowers of the host plant. Chrysalids hibernate in crevices at base of host tree or under loose bark.
Flight: Three flights from March-December.
Caterpillar Hosts: Mistletoe (Phoradendron species) growing on several tree species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including goldenrod, Hercules club, shepherd's needle, sweet pepperbush, and wild plum.
Habitat: Oak woods, mesquite forests, planted walnuts in agricultural or suburban areas, and mixed woods infested with mistletoe.
Range: Guatemala north to central California, east through Texas and southern Missouri to Maryland.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1113 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 14, 2019
Submitted by: Aggielacie
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 24, 2019
Observation date: Mar 15, 2019
Submitted by: Hawkfeathyr
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2019
Observation date: Mar 09, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 14, 2019
Observation date: Mar 03, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 06, 2019
Observation date: Mar 15, 2018
Submitted by: KateTweedy
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 06, 2019
Observation date: Jan 29, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 29, 2019
Observation date: Oct 14, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 15, 2019
Observation date: Dec 30, 2018
Submitted by: fredgibison
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 01, 2019
Observation date: Oct 11, 2018
Submitted by: gaylescout
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 25, 2018
Observation date: Nov 16, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2018
Observation date: Sep 10, 2016
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 10, 2018
Observation date: Apr 04, 2015
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 23, 2018
Submitted by: Annava
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 06, 2018
Observation date: Nov 04, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 05, 2018
Observation date: Oct 28, 2018
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 02, 2018
Observation date: Oct 21, 2018
Submitted by: rosacmchenry@sb...
Region: Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 22, 2018
Observation date: Sep 10, 2018
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Dr April Gordon)
Region: Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 16, 2018
Observation date: Oct 10, 2018
Submitted by: Pamela15
Region: Texas, Runnels County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: May 04, 2018
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 09, 2018
Submitted by: Arusso
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 11, 2018
Observation date: Aug 17, 2018
Submitted by: birdingjulia
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 11, 2018
Observation date: Aug 16, 2018
Submitted by: Debbie Trotter
Region: Douglas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2018
Observation date: Sep 15, 2016
Submitted by: joelacefield
Region: Woodford County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: Aug 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: dharlette
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2018
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