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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea)
JPG -- species photo

Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea [Hewitson])

Wing span: 5/8 - 7/8 inch (1.6 - 2.2 cm).

Identification: Upperside of male iridescent purple-blue; female dull gray-blue. Underside postmedian line is white, forming a W near the inner margin.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: One flight in South Texas in June; January-July in Central America.

Caterpillar hosts: Flowers of Guazuma (Costa Rica) and Central American soapberry (Peru).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Stream valleys of semideciduous dry forests.

Range: Southern Brazil north to Mexico. Rare stray to South Texas.

Conservation: Not required for rare tropical stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern  butterflies. Peterson 
    field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,  Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 
     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.

Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 
     Privately published, Denver, Colo.
Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea)
distribution map
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