North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature




The Registry of Nature Habitats

U.S. Geological Survey


Butterflies of North America

Johnson's Hairstreak (Callophrys [Loranthomitoura] johnsoni)
JPG -- species photo

Johnson's Hairstreak (Callophrys johnsoni [Skinner])

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 inches (3.2 - 3.5 cm).

Identification: Upperside of males rusty brown, females more orange. Underside gray-brown, darker toward wing bases. Postmedian line is white bordered with black on the inside edge.

Life history: Eggs are laid on the host; caterpillars feed on all exposed parts of the plant. Chrysalids hibernate in the mistletoe mass.

Flight: One flight from May-July.

Caterpillar hosts: Pine dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium campylopodum) which grows on conifers.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Coniferous forests, especially old-growth.

Range: Very local and scarce. Pacific Slope mountains from British Columbia south to central California.

Conservation: All populations are worthy of conservation concern.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).

Management needs: Maintain old-growth forests with this species' habitat requirements.

References:

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford  University Press, 
    Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin Co., 
    Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

Johnson's Hairstreak (Callophrys [Loranthomitoura] johnsoni)
distribution map
map legend

Disclaimer
Return to species list
Return to Butterflies of North America main page