North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Florida

Fulvous Hairstreak (Electrostrymon angelia)
JPG -- species photo

Fulvous Hairstreak (Electrostrymon angelia [Hewitson])

Wing span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (2 - 2.9 cm).

Identification: Hindwing with 2 tails. Upperside red-orange with black borders. Underside of hindwing gray-brown with large eyespot near lower tip of wing; postmedian line is white edged with black.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly on leaves and stems; caterpillars eat the leaves.

Flight: Many flights from January-November.

Caterpillar hosts: Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) in the cashew family (Anacardiaceae).

Adult food: Nectar from flowers of Brazilian pepper, shepherd's needle, and sea grape.

Habitat: Edges of tropical hardwood hammocks.

Range: Southern Florida and the Keys, West Indies.

Conservation: Not required for species on non-indigenous hosts.

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 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

State and Regional References:

Gerberg, E.J. and Arnett, R.H., Jr.  Florida Butterflies.  Natural Science
     Publications, Inc.  Baltimore, MD.  90 pp.

Kimball, C.P.  1965.  Arthropods of Florida and Neighboring Land Areas - Vol. 1:
     Lepidoptera of Florida.  Div. of Plant Industry, State of Florida Dept. 
     of Agriculture.  Gainesville, FL.  363 pp. 

Minno, M.C. and Emmel, T.C.  1993.  Butterflies of the Florida Keys.  Scientific
     Publishers.  Gainesville, FL.  168 pp.
     
Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format.
     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.     

Smith, D.S., Miller, L.D. and Miller, J.Y.  1994.  The Butterflies of the West
     Indies and South Florida.  Oxford Univ. Press.  Oxford, U.K.  264 pp.
Fulvous Hairstreak (Electrostrymon angelia)
distribution map
map legend

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