Thicket Hairstreak
Common NameThicket Hairstreak
Scientific NameCallophrys spinetorum
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, white, blue
HabitatConiferous forests, pinyon-juniper woodlands, chaparral
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California, through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada
Host PlantsPonderosa Pine, Lodgepole Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Douglas Fir, Dwarf Mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on new growth of host conifers or dwarf mistletoe. Larvae feed on needles or mistletoe. Pupae overwinter, and there is typically one brood per year.
Identification TipsLook for the reddish-brown underside with a prominent, often broken, white postmedian line on both wings. The hindwing has a small tail and a blue spot, but lacks the distinct 'W' mark found in some other hairstreaks.
Description
A small, reddish-brown butterfly with a distinctive white postmedian line on the underside of its hindwings, a small tail, and a blue spot near the anal angle.
