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 601 - 624 of 7147 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Chris Rice
Region: San Joaquin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2021
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: May 12, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Texas, Kimble County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: May 09, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Jackson County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 13, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: Bertee
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 08, 2021
Observation date: Jul 30, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: Brianamccoy2018...
Region: Douglas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: u4sales
Region: Merced County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: karin_k
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: Artemisia
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: Karenmal211
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Don Marotte
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 18, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: sobutterfly7
Region: Josephine County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 17, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
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