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

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Poling's Hairstreak (Fixsenia polingi)
JPG -- species photo

Poling's Hairstreak (Fixsenia polingi [Barnes and Benjamin])

Wing span: 1 - 1 3/8 inches (2.5 - 3.0 cm).

Identification: Two tails on each hindwing. Underside of hindwing dark-brown; blue tail-spot capped narrowly with orange; black-edged white W near inner margin.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly on host plant twigs and hatch the following spring. Caterpillars feed on leaves, buds, and male catkins

Flight: Two flights, one in May-June and another in August-September.

Caterpillar hosts: Gray oak and Emory oak.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Oak woodlands.

Range: Southern New Mexico and west Texas south into northeastern Mexico.

Conservation: Status of host oak populations and nectar availability should be studied.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences), or because of other factors demonstrably making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range. (Endangered throughout its range).

Management needs: None reported.

References:


Neck, R.W. 1996. A field guide to butterflies of Texas. Gulf Publishing Co., 

     Houston, Texas. 323 pp.



Opler, P.A. 1999. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 540 pages, 44 color plates.



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

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including 

     adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO. 

Author: Paul A. Opler

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.

Poling's Hairstreak (Fixsenia polingi)
distribution map
map legend

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