Hairstreak Butterflies

family Lycaenidae: Hairstreaks Behr's Hairstreak Brown Elfin California Hairstreak Golden Hairstreak Gray Hairstreak Hedgerow Hairstreak Juniper Hairstreak Sheridan's Hairstreak Blue Butterfly Identification Butterfly Pictures and Information

Hairstreak Butterflies are a sub-family (Theclinae) of butterflies in the Lycaenidae family.

Generally, but not always, the small protruding hair as the bottom of the tail serves as the basic field identification mark.

Most of the one hundred or so hairstreak species can be characterized by a regionally limited range. The Gray Hairstreak is an exception to that rule, with a range extending throughout most of the United States.

Hairstreaks are further divided into around a dozen different genera. Approximately two-thirds of the species belong to the Callophrys or Satyrium or Strymon genus.

The Callophrys genus is the largest, and the Juniper Hairstreak and Brown Elfin listed in the box are representative species.

The Behr's, California and Hedgerow Hairstreaks represent the Satyrium genus.

Field identification of hairstreaks can be fairly easy. Most species are relatively small, the size of a penny or nickle when the wings are folded.

Species diversity means they can be discovered from sea level to mountain areas in fields, forests and backyards. Most species also tend to perch in sunny areas with their wings folded, making them easy to view and photograph when discovered.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels