Butterflies at Home



One of our favorite butterfly families, the Hairstreak offers much color and geographic distribution. And it's hard to tell if they are coming, or going!

The subfamily Theclinae is a group of butterflies, including the hairstreaks, elfins and allies, in the family Lycaenidae.

They are part of the gossamer-winged butterfly family, and are distinguished by hairlike markings on the underside of the wings. Here are some common ones seen around the USA:

Gray Hairstreak

click for details

Gray Hairstreak

Great Purple Hairstreak

click for details

Great Purple Hairstreak

Juniper Hairstreak

click for details

Juniper Hairstreak Butterfly

Red Banded Hairstreak

click for details

Red-banded Hairstreak Butterfly

Zebra Hairstreak

click for details

Zebra Hairstreak Butterfly

Arizona Hairstreak

click for details

Arizona Hairstreak

Hedgerow Hairstreak

Hedgerow Hairstreak

Striped Hairstreak

Striped Hairstreak

King Hairstreak

King Hairstreak

Silver-banded Hairstreak

Silver-banded Hairstreak

Golden Hairstreak

Golden Hairstreak

Nelson's Juniper Hairstreak

Nelson's Juniper Hairstreak

Coral Hairstreak

Coral Hairstreak

Mallow Scrub Hairstreak

Mallow Scrub Hairstreak