North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Aquamarine Hairstreak (Oenomaus ortygnus)

Aquamarine Hairstreak (Oenomaus ortygnus [Cramer])

Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).

Identification: Upperside blue with black borders. Underside gray with a pink sheen; no submarginal or postmedian lines. Hindwing has 3 or 4 black spots.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly on the host plant; caterpillars bore into and feed upon the buds, flowers and fruits.

Flight: January-November in Mexico, strayed to South Texas in mid-December.

Caterpillar hosts: Annona species.

Adult food: Not reported.

Habitat: Low elevation wet and dry tropical forests.

Range: Brazil north through Central America to Tamaulipas, Mexico. Rare stray to South Texas.

Conservation: Not necessary for rare stray.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might 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.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford  University Press, 

    Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 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.

Aquamarine Hairstreak (Oenomaus ortygnus)
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