Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Ruddy Hairstreak
Electrostrymon sangala (Hewitson, 1868)


Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Two tails on the hindwing. Upperside orange to orange-brown; underside tan with red postmedian line.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 inch (2.2 - 2.6 cm).
Life History: In Colombia, males perch on hilltop shrubs to seek receptive females.
Flight: Many broods from April-December in South Texas; from April-January in Central America.
Caterpillar Hosts:
Adult Food: Flower nectar from many plants including Waltheria and Casearia.
Habitat: Openings and edges in tropical semideciduous river forests, second growth, tropical thorn-scrub.
Range: South Texas through Central America to Venezuela.
Conservation: Any permanent U.S. populations should be protected.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Locate populations and protect their habitat.
Comments: NULL