Stencilled Hairstreak
Common NameStencilled Hairstreak
Scientific NameCallophrys affinis
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Primary Colorsbrown, black, orange
HabitatArid and semi-arid regions, open woodlands, chaparral, sagebrush flats
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to California and east to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico
Host PlantsEriogonum (wild buckwheat) species
Flight PeriodApril to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on the host plant, typically *Eriogonum*. Larvae feed on the flowers and seeds, then pupate in the leaf litter or soil. The species overwinters as a pupa.
Identification TipsLook for the unique pattern of black dashes on the hindwing underside, which gives it its 'stencilled' name. The presence of small tails on the hindwings and the overall light brown coloration are also key features.
Description
A small butterfly with a light brown to tan underside, characterized by a distinctive series of black dashes or 'stencils' across the hindwing, often accompanied by a submarginal band of orange and black spots.
