Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272
Chlorostrymon telea
This record describes Chlorostrymon telea (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Tiny size, smaller than even typically small Lycaenids such as Ministrymon clytie and Strymon istapa. Brilliant lime-green underwing color. Conspicuous brown spot on the hindwing near the hairs. Type Locality: Amazon First US record was collected by Avery Freeman in Laredo in 1935 and reported by Klots (as a subspecies of Strymon maesites ). Species was not seen in the US again until November 2007, when Berry Nall found multiple individuals at Falcon State Park, Starr County, TX. In June 2009 a few more were found by Mike Rickard at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park in Mission, Hidalgo County, TX.
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
- Chlorostrymon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Stream valleys of semideciduous dry forests
Geographic Range
s. TX (as a stray) to Brazil - Map - (MPG, BOA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts include Guazuma and Central American Soapberry.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Chlorostrymon telea. 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 Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272
What is Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272?
Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272 (Chlorostrymon telea) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272?
0.8-0.9 in.
How do you identify Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272?
Tiny size, smaller than even typically small Lycaenids such as Ministrymon clytie and Strymon istapa. Brilliant lime-green underwing color. Conspicuous brown spot on the hindwing near the hairs.
Where is Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Stream valleys of semideciduous dry forests |
| Range | s. TX (as a stray) to Brazil - Map - (MPG, BOA) |
What does Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272 eat?
The diet of the Telea Hairstreak - Hodges#4272 includes Larval hosts include Guazuma and Central American Soapberry..