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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 361 - 384 of 1355 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 27, 2015
Submitted by: Kayaksailor
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 30, 2015
Observation date: Apr 15, 2015
Submitted by: tjdunkerton
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
Observation date: Mar 30, 2015
Submitted by: unpopeular
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
Observation date: Mar 19, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2015
Observation date: Oct 19, 2014
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 23, 2015
Observation date: Feb 12, 2015
Submitted by: suedavies28
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 13, 2015
Observation date: Nov 09, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 08, 2015
Observation date: Jan 06, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 08, 2015
Observation date: Dec 21, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 22, 2014
Observation date: Nov 09, 2014
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 22, 2014
Observation date: Sep 14, 2014
Submitted by: dmparis1
Region: Hall County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Dec 16, 2014
Observation date: Sep 20, 2014
Submitted by: kbeza31979
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Dec 14, 2014
Observation date: Nov 08, 2013
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 26, 2014
Observation date: Nov 08, 2008
Submitted by: Shirley Wilkerson
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 29, 2014
Observation date: Sep 05, 2014
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Wayne County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Sep 14, 2014
Observation date: Sep 07, 2014
Submitted by: Raul Delgado
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 08, 2014
Observation date: Aug 30, 2014
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2014
Observation date: Aug 08, 2014
Submitted by: Joleen
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2014
Observation date: Jun 13, 2014
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny
Verified date: Jul 21, 2014
Observation date: Jul 14, 2014
Submitted by: melina staal
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2014
Observation date: Mar 22, 2014
Submitted by: Lois Stacey
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 21, 2014
Observation date: Apr 16, 2014
Submitted by: Wallwiz
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 21, 2014
Observation date: Jul 01, 2013
Submitted by: Tahoe Butterflies
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2014
Observation date: Mar 24, 2014
Submitted by: Greylan
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 27, 2014
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