Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus (Hübner, 1818)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: One tail on hindwing. Upperside blue-gray with large red spot near tail. Underside of spring/fall form is dark gray, summer form is paler gray. Relatively straight postmedian line is white, bordered with orange on the inside edge.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.2 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch all afternoon on small trees and shrubs to seek receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers of host plant. Young caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits; older ones may eat leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Two flights from May-September in the north, three-four flights from February-November in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flowers and fruits from an almost endless variety of plants; most often from pea (Fabaceae) and mallow (Malvaceae) families including beans (Phaseolus), clovers (Trifolium), cotton (Gossypium), and mallow (Malva).
Adult Food: Nectar from many flower species including dogbane, milkweed, mint, winter cress, goldenrod, tick trefoil, and white sweet clover.
Habitat: Open, nonforested sites; common in disturbed, weedy areas.
Range: Throughout continental United States from southern Canada south to Mexico; southward to Venezuela. Comments: The most widespread hairstreak in North America.
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: Caterpillars may cause economic damage to bean and cotton crops.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 265 - 288 of 7133 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 13, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: Paul C. Agidius
Region: Latah County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: Tuesday
Region: Asotin County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2023
Submitted by: baileyjt
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
Observation date: Sep 06, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 06, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 04, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: Wendy Prest
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 24, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: Catherine120
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: Jeff Hansen
Region: Davison County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2017
Submitted by: Darkbluecelt
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 17, 2023
Submitted by: TuTuponyrider
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2017
Submitted by: mhearell
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 10, 2018
Submitted by: Abby Roberts
Region: Davis County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2017
Submitted by: dingoqueen
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: heather-russell
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: cp2023
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 15, 2023
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