Common Hairstreak
Common NameCommon Hairstreak
Scientific NameStrymon melinus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Primary Colorslight gray, orange, black
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, gardens, open fields, disturbed areas, forest edges
Geographic RangeSouthern Canada, throughout the United States, Mexico, and Central America
Host Plantsclover, beans, mallow, cotton, lupine, alfalfa, vetch
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant flowers or fruits. Larvae are slug-like and vary in color, feeding on various parts of the host plant. Pupation occurs on the ground or within leaf litter, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsIdentify by the light gray underside with a distinctive broken orange-brown line and a single orange spot near the two short, black-tipped tails on each hindwing. The upperside is typically dull gray-brown.
Description
A small butterfly with light gray undersides, featuring a broken orange-brown line and a prominent orange spot near the hindwing tails.
