Hairstreaks: (Theclinae)

family Lycaenidae: Hairstreaks Behr's Hairstreak Brown Elfin California Hairstreak Clytie Ministreak Dusky-blue Groundstreak Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak Golden Hairstreak Gray Hairstreak Hedgerow Hairstreak Juniper Hairstreak Red-Crescent Scrub-Hairstreak Sheridan's Hairstreak Silver-banded Hairstreak Western Pine Elfin Blue Butterfly Identification Butterfly Pictures and Information

Hairstreaks, the subfamily (Theclinae) of butterflies in the Lycaenidae family, are generally, but not always identified by the small protruding hair at the bottom of the tail.

Most of the one hundred or so hairstreak species live in a geographically limited range. The Gray Hairstreak is an exception to that rule, with a range extending throughout most of the United States.

Hairstreaks divide into around a dozen different genera, with approximately two-thirds of the species belonging to one of three genera:

• Callophrys - The geunus consists of all the elfins (small, brown, generally tailless or small tailed species) plus a handful of primarily Western hairstreaks. The Juniper Hairstreak and Brown Elfin are good examples of genus members with a continental range.
• Satyrium - Satyrium species also have geographically limited ranges, however individual species are found from coast to coast. The Behr's, California and Hedgerow Hairstreaks are examples.
• Strymon - Members of the genus often sit with open wings, and most are Southern or Southwestern species. Examples of the genus are the Gray, Lantana, Mallow and Red-Crescent Scrub-streaks.

Field identification of hairstreaks often can be straight forward using the patterns on the underside of the wings as the basic identification clues. Most species are relatively small, the size of a penny or nickle when the wings are folded, so getting a large, accurate picture might be the most difficult identification task.

Species diversity means they can be discovered from sea level to mountain areas in fields, forests and backyards.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels