Henry's Elfin
Callophrys henrici (Grote & Robinson, 1867)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Tailed. Upperside dark brown; male without oval spot at forewing front edge. Often a dull orange tinge at outer margin of forewing and near tail of hindwing. Underside forewing with fairly straight postmedian line; hindwing with some white in the postmedian line.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on host plants during warm daylight hours. Location of egg deposition on plants varies with the plant species: on American holly an egg is laid on the center of an old host leaf just before bud break, while on redbud eggs are laid on flowers and buds. Caterpillars eat buds and young leaves, and pupate in litter at the base of the host plant. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: One flight from February-May.
Caterpillar Hosts: Diverse plants texana) in Texas; dahoon (Ilex cassine), American holly (I. opaca), and yaupon (I. vomitoria) in Florida and North Carolina. Redbud (Ceris canadensis), huckleberries and blueberries (Vaccinium species), Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa), and Viburnum species are selected in other locations.
Adult Food: Where redbud is the caterpillar host, its flowers are the main nectar supply for adults. In other places, flowers of plants that are not the caterpillar host are used for nectar including willows, wild plum and hawthorn, and Forstiera.
Habitat: Edges and openings in barrens and near pine or pine-oak woodland.
Range: Maine west through southern Canada to Wisconsin, south to Texas, the Gulf Coast, and central Florida.
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: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Incisalia henrici
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 121 - 144 of 1372 verified sightings
Observation date: May 05, 2018
Submitted by: satchmo0802
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: May 07, 2018
Observation date: Apr 11, 2018
Submitted by: StaceyTavarez
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 14, 2018
Observation date: Mar 27, 2018
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 12, 2018
Observation date: Mar 16, 2018
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 17, 2018
Observation date: May 23, 2017
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 24, 2017
Observation date: Apr 13, 2017
Submitted by: rconnorsphoto
Region: Dickson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Morgan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Overton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Union County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 07, 2017
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: StaceyTavarez
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 03, 2017
Observation date: Mar 26, 2017
Submitted by: StaceyTavarez
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Apr 02, 2017
Observation date: Mar 29, 2017
Submitted by: StaceyTavarez
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Mar 29, 2017
Observation date: Mar 09, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 26, 2017
Observation date: Mar 10, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 11, 2017
Observation date: Feb 11, 2017
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2017
Observation date: Mar 13, 2011
Submitted by: redfishin
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 15, 2017
Observation date: May 12, 2009
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Jun 07, 2016
Observation date: Apr 23, 2016
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 30, 2016
Observation date: Apr 15, 2016
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Leavenworth County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Apr 29, 2016
Observation date: Apr 04, 2016
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Hanover County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Apr 27, 2016
Observation date: Apr 03, 2016
Submitted by: mdolomieu1
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Apr 13, 2016
Observation date: Mar 12, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 25, 2016
Observation date: Mar 17, 2011
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Decatur County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jan 01, 2016
Observation date: May 06, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 08, 2015
- ‹ previous
- 6 of 58
- next ›