North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta)
JPG -- species photo

Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 7/8 - 15/16 inch (2.2 - 2.4 cm).

Identification: No tails. Upperside blue and black; female has more blue than male. Underside turquoise blue; hindwing with 2 irregular bands of small orange spots.

Life history: Males perch in treetops to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars feed on leaves and fruits.

Flight: Two broods in the north and three in the south, from April-September.

Caterpillar hosts: Beech (Fagus grandifolia) and beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta).

Adult food: Nectar from flowers of fleabane, ox-eyed daisy, and hardtack.

Habitat: Deciduous and mixed woods, especially on open ridgetops and along dirt roads.

Range: Rare and local in its range. Maritime Provinces west to northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin; south through the Appalachians to Tennessee and North Carolina.

Conservation: All confirmed populations should be conserved.

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: Protect habitats and nectar sources.

References:

Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the  Great Plains. Johns 
    Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.

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

Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta)
distribution map
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