Telea Hairstreak
Chlorostrymon telea (Hewitson, 1868)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Upperside of male iridescent purple-blue; female dull gray-blue. Underside postmedian line is white, forming a W near the inner margin.
Wing Span: 5/8 - 7/8 inch (1.6 - 2.2 cm).
Life History: Not reported.
Flight: One flight in South Texas in June; January-July in Central America.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flowers of Guazuma (Costa Rica) and Central American soapberry (Peru).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Stream valleys of semideciduous dry forests.
Range: Southern Brazil north to Mexico. Rare stray to South Texas.
Conservation: Not required for rare tropical stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 07, 2025
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 08, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: BernieKosar
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 22, 2025
Observation date: Jan 04, 2014
Submitted by: michielaruba
Region:
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Nov 15, 2015
Submitted by: tripp.davenport...
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 28, 2016
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 03, 1935
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Hugh Avery Freeman)
Region: Texas, Webb County, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Suzanne Rab Green)
Verified date: Dec 12, 2007
Observation date: Oct 08, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Berry Hall)
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: nick.grishin (Nick Grishin)
Verified date: Oct 30, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004