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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 265 - 288 of 1355 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jul 02, 2018
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: audreysmith79
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jun 22, 2018
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Lake County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 04, 2018
Observation date: May 07, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2018
Observation date: May 31, 2018
Submitted by: Dahneeze
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2018
Observation date: May 20, 2018
Submitted by: cbridgewater
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: Apr 08, 2018
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2018
Observation date: Mar 19, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2018
Observation date: Mar 03, 2018
Submitted by: NMElaine
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 15, 2018
Observation date: Feb 10, 2018
Submitted by: ADoyle
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 10, 2018
Observation date: Feb 08, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Apr 22, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 08, 2018
Observation date: Jan 28, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 01, 2018
Observation date: Nov 11, 2017
Submitted by: Mayaakpinar
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 14, 2017
Observation date: Jan 16, 2016
Submitted by: petek
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2017
Observation date: Nov 02, 2017
Submitted by: Art Prennace
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 03, 2017
Observation date: May 12, 2016
Submitted by: Williamv0123
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 20, 2017
Observation date: Mar 05, 2016
Submitted by: Robert J Howard
Region: Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 17, 2017
Observation date: Oct 16, 2016
Submitted by: sherylsr
Region: Blanco County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2017
Observation date: Dec 12, 2016
Submitted by: Phantom
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 16, 2017
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