Johnson's Hairstreak

family Lycaenidae Blue Butterfly Identification Reakirt's Blue Silvery Blue Spring Azure Brown Elfin Purplish Copper Types of Butterflies

Hairstreak butterflies are mambers of the Lycaenidae family.

They are small butterflies with a tail. Their color varies according to species.

There are a couple of brownish hairstreaks that are identified according to markings on the underside of the wing. The picture above looks to be the Johnson's Hairstreak.

Johnson's populations are limited to the western coasts of the Pacific Northwest. The caterpillars feed on Pine dwarf mistletoe, which explains their nickname, mistletoe hairstreak.

© 2003 Patricia A. Michaels