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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 313 - 336 of 1355 verified sightings
Observation date: May 26, 2010
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 23, 2017
Observation date: Feb 24, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 24, 2017
Observation date: Feb 22, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Feb 22, 2017
Observation date: Feb 02, 2017
Submitted by: neflodonata
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 02, 2017
Observation date: Mar 17, 2016
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 29, 2016
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: NMElaine
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 04, 2016
Observation date: Oct 22, 2016
Submitted by: Nancy Hamlett
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 27, 2016
Observation date: Nov 19, 2016
Submitted by: acinonyx79
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 20, 2016
Observation date: Mar 18, 2010
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Brazos County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2016
Observation date: Sep 26, 2016
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Dorchester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: Oct 31, 2016
Observation date: Oct 12, 2016
Submitted by: dbruce
Region: Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 26, 2016
Observation date: Jul 12, 2016
Submitted by: khimera13
Region: Leflore County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Oct 25, 2016
Observation date: Oct 22, 2016
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2016
Observation date: Aug 09, 2016
Submitted by: SRMcknight
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2016
Observation date: Oct 06, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 15, 2016
Observation date: Oct 10, 2016
Submitted by: sscottsmith
Region: Colorado County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 11, 2016
Observation date: Sep 05, 2016
Submitted by: Steve Coleman
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 11, 2016
Observation date: Oct 01, 2016
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 03, 2016
Observation date: Sep 25, 2016
Submitted by: blazingsaddles
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 26, 2016
Observation date: Sep 09, 2016
Submitted by: vldeloach
Region: Cherokee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 24, 2016
Observation date: Dec 11, 2015
Submitted by: geraldswegner
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: geraldswegner
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
Observation date: Aug 26, 2016
Submitted by: CGBGgardenguru
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Aug 07, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 04, 2016
Observation date: Aug 24, 2016
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 24, 2016
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