Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak
Strymon bebrycia (Hewitson, 1868)


Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: One long tail on hindwing. Upperside gray. Underside of hindwing gray with white submarginal spots; red-orange postmedian line capped with white toward the outer edge of the wing.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on hilltop bushes to find receptive females.
Flight: Possibly three broods in South Texas from February-December; flies all year in Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) in the Sapindaceae family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical thorn scrub, desert scrub.
Range: Northwest Costa Rica north through Mexico. Rare vagrant to South Texas and southern Arizona.
Conservation: Not required for rare stray.
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