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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
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