Western Green Hairstreak
Common NameWestern Green Hairstreak
Scientific NameCallophrys affinis
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgreen, brown, white
HabitatDry open areas, chaparral, sagebrush scrub, rocky slopes, open woodlands
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south through the western US to Baja California
Host PlantsEriogonum spp. (wild buckwheat)
Flight PeriodMarch to July
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant flowers or leaves. Larvae feed on flowers and seeds, pupating near the ground, often overwintering as a pupa.
Identification TipsKey features include the bright green underside, the lack of tails on the hindwings, and the specific pattern of a broken white line on the hindwing underside.
Description
A small butterfly with a vibrant green underside, often marked with a broken white line and some reddish-brown, and a plain brown upperside.
