Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310
Callophrys spinetorum
This record describes Callophrys spinetorum (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: upperside distinctive steel-blue with wide dark margins; underside reddish-brown with prominent black-edged white line in middle of both wings; the line forms a W shape above the hindwing tail Larva: green with olive-colored stripe down the back, and red, white, and yellow stripes on each well-defined ridge males regularly perch on the tops of trees to find receptive females
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
- Subfamily
- Theclinae
- Tribe
- Eumaeini
- Genus
- Callophrys
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
coniferous and mixed forests
Geographic Range
widespread in the west from southern British Columbia and Alberta to California, New Mexico, and western Texas, south through Mexico
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to June in the north; April to August in the south
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on all parts of dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium spp., Viscaceae), which is a parasite of a variety of coniferous trees adults often sip nectar from flowers close to coniferous forests where the larval foodplant grows
Life History
eggs are laid singly on the hostplant; one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa inside a chrysalis within a mass of mistletoe
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Callophrys spinetorum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Edward Ruden
Frequently Asked Questions About Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310
What is Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310?
Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310 (Callophrys spinetorum) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310?
wingspan 23-32 mm
How do you identify Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310?
Adult: upperside distinctive steel-blue with wide dark margins; underside reddish-brown with prominent black-edged white line in middle of both wings; the line forms a W shape above the hindwing tail Larva: green with olive-colored stripe down the back, and red, white, and yellow stripes on each well-defined ridge
Where is Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | coniferous and mixed forests |
| Range | widespread in the west from southern British Columbia and Alberta to California, New Mexico, and western Texas, south through Mexico |
What does Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310 eat?
The diet of the Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310 includes larvae feed on all parts of dwarf mistletoe ( Arceuthobium spp., Viscaceae), which is a parasite of a variety of coniferous trees adults often sip nectar from flowers close to coniferous forests where the larval foodplant grows.
When is Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310 active?
Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to June in the north; April to August in the south.
What is the life cycle of a Thicket Hairstreak - Hodges#4310?
eggs are laid singly on the hostplant; one generation per year; overwinters as a pupa inside a chrysalis within a mass of mistletoe