Clytie Ministreak
Common NameClytie Ministreak
Scientific NameMinistrymon clytie
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsgray, orange, white, black
HabitatArid scrub, desert washes, chaparral, thorn forest
Geographic RangeSouthwestern US (southern Arizona, southern New Mexico, southern Texas), Mexico, Central America
Host PlantsAcacia, Mimosa, Prosopis, Pithecellobium
Flight PeriodYear-round in southern Texas and Mexico; May to October in Arizona and New Mexico
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLike other butterflies, it undergoes complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (caterpillar) feeding on various legumes, pupa, and adult butterfly.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the distinctive gray underside with an orange-red postmedian line, a prominent black spot with an orange cap near the anal angle, and two short tails on the hindwings.
Description
A small hairstreak butterfly with a gray to whitish underside, marked with an orange-red postmedian line and a black spot capped with orange near the anal angle, featuring two short tails on each hindwing.
