Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294
Oenomaus ortygnus
This record describes Oenomaus ortygnus (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upperside iridescent greenish-blue with black borders in males; pale blue in females. Underside gray with an aquamarine band along the trailing edge of the hindwing. Hindwing has 3 or 4 black spots. First US records: Two individuals were seen and one collected in Brownsville in December 1962. (Clench 1964)
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
- Oenomaus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
low-elevation forests
Geographic Range
Very rare vagrant in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas; normally found from Tamaulipas, Mexico south to Brazil - Map
Seasonal Activity
Oct-Dec in TX, flies almost all year in Mexico
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are nectar feeders; US records have mostly been on Eupatorium betonicifolium. Caterpillars found on plants in the genus Annona; no known host plants or documented reproduction in the US.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Oenomaus ortygnus (Cramer, 1779)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Oenomaus ortygnus. 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 Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294 (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294
What is Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294?
Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294 (Oenomaus ortygnus) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294?
Upperside iridescent greenish-blue with black borders in males; pale blue in females. Underside gray with an aquamarine band along the trailing edge of the hindwing. Hindwing has 3 or 4 black spots.
Where is Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | low-elevation forests |
| Range | Very rare vagrant in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas; normally found from Tamaulipas, Mexico south to Brazil - Map |
What does Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294 eat?
The diet of the Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294 includes Adults are nectar feeders; US records have mostly been on Eupatorium betonicifolium. Caterpillars found on plants in the genus Annona; no known host plants or documented reproduction in the US..
When is Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294 active?
Aquamarine Hairstreak - Hodges#4294: seasonal activity - Oct-Dec in TX, flies almost all year in Mexico.