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