North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis (previously C. apama, C. affinis, and C. dumetorum))
JPG -- species photo

Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis [W. H. Edwards])

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

Identification: No tails. Adults variable. Upperside ranges from gray to orange-tinted to bright orange-brown. Underside of forewing green with orange or gray patch. Underside of hindwing yellow-green to green; postmedian white line usually reduced to a few spots.

Life history: Males perch on hilltops or in gulches to seek females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plants; caterpillars feed on flowers and young fruits, and occasionally leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.

Flight: One flight from May-July.

Caterpillar hosts: Various Eriogonum, Lotus, and Ceanothus species.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Brushland, chaparral, woods, scrub.

Range: Southern British Columbia and Washington south through California into northern Baja California; east to central Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Conservation: Not usually required.

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:

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

Western Green Hairstreak (Callophrys affinis (previously C. apama, C. affinis, and C. dumetorum))
distribution map
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