Observation date: June 18, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Very windy, so this individual stayed very tucked in. Looking back and forth between Kaufman and Glassberg, I'm seeing some conflicting information. In Kaufman, there's a separate entry that is just "Western Green Hairstreak" that doesn't appear in Glassberg. The range looks right, and considering the variability that's mentioned (complete post-median line to spotty or absent depending on location) it works pretty well with my observation. In Glassberg, the Bramble Hairstreak is shown with the same range as Kaufman's Western Green, while Kaufman lists the Bramble's range as restricted to the west coast. If I were looking only at Glassberg, I'd guess Bramble based primarily on range, but would also lean toward Sheridan based on appearance. Looking at Kaufman, Sheridan has some visual similarities, but is less likely because of range. Glassberg says it's a "complicated group with much variation," so I'll take that and go with Kaufman's "generic" grouping of Western Green Hairstreak. Either way it's my second new-for-me species this year, which is exciting!
Status: Resident
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: June 22, 2023
Coordinator notes: your thought process got you to the right species, at best we currently know. it is a complex group. this is Glassberg's Bramble = Brock & Kaufman's Western Green. very scarcely known from Colfax County, so this is an important sighting. if you know the precise spot, I might ask you to take me there so I can get a sample for DNA analysis. let me know!
