Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297
Rekoa palegon
This record describes Rekoa palegon (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Underwings are pale gray-brown with streaks of darker brown, sometimes reddish, and a wide golden-orange band along the edge. Upperwings are bright blue in males, pale blue-gray to brown in 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
- Rekoa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Disturbed areas.
Geographic Range
rare stray to s. TX / Mex. to Argentina - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
Nov-Dec strays to southmost TX (MPG, NABA)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults are nectar feeders, often on members of the composite family. Larvae are found on Asters and relatives, also Verbena.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Rekoa palegon (Cramer, 1780)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Rekoa palegon. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297
What is Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297?
Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297 (Rekoa palegon) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297?
Underwings are pale gray-brown with streaks of darker brown, sometimes reddish, and a wide golden-orange band along the edge. Upperwings are bright blue in males, pale blue-gray to brown in females.
Where is Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Disturbed areas. |
| Range | rare stray to s. TX / Mex. to Argentina - Map (MPG) |
What does Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297 eat?
The diet of the Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297 includes Adults are nectar feeders, often on members of the composite family. Larvae are found on Asters and relatives, also Verbena..
When is Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297 active?
Gold-bordered Hairstreak - Hodges#4297: seasonal activity - Nov-Dec strays to southmost TX (MPG, NABA).