Gray Hairstreak
Common NameGray Hairstreak
Scientific NameStrymon melinus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)22
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgray, brown, white, black
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, gardens, urban areas, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSouthern Canada, United States, Mexico, Central America, parts of South America
Host Plantsclover, beans, peas, alfalfa, cotton, mallow
Flight PeriodMarch to November (southern), May to September (northern)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are slug-like and feed on flowers and fruits. Pupation occurs on the host plant or nearby, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsLook for the gray wings, the slender 'tail' on the hindwing, and the prominent black spot with a white border on the ventral hindwing, often with a small orange patch near the tail.
Description
A small, grayish-brown butterfly with a distinctive slender tail on each hindwing. The underside of the hindwing features a prominent black spot bordered with white, often accompanied by a faint orange patch.
