Henry's Elfin
Callophrys henrici (Grote & Robinson, 1867)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Tailed. Upperside dark brown; male without oval spot at forewing front edge. Often a dull orange tinge at outer margin of forewing and near tail of hindwing. Underside forewing with fairly straight postmedian line; hindwing with some white in the postmedian line.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on host plants during warm daylight hours. Location of egg deposition on plants varies with the plant species: on American holly an egg is laid on the center of an old host leaf just before bud break, while on redbud eggs are laid on flowers and buds. Caterpillars eat buds and young leaves, and pupate in litter at the base of the host plant. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: One flight from February-May.
Caterpillar Hosts: Diverse plants texana) in Texas; dahoon (Ilex cassine), American holly (I. opaca), and yaupon (I. vomitoria) in Florida and North Carolina. Redbud (Ceris canadensis), huckleberries and blueberries (Vaccinium species), Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa), and Viburnum species are selected in other locations.
Adult Food: Where redbud is the caterpillar host, its flowers are the main nectar supply for adults. In other places, flowers of plants that are not the caterpillar host are used for nectar including willows, wild plum and hawthorn, and Forstiera.
Habitat: Edges and openings in barrens and near pine or pine-oak woodland.
Range: Maine west through southern Canada to Wisconsin, south to Texas, the Gulf Coast, and central Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Incisalia henrici
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 1355 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 04, 2019
Submitted by: KenL
Region: Virginia, Williamsburg, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Apr 20, 2022
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 18, 2022
Observation date: Apr 04, 2022
Submitted by: annegp
Region: Lancaster County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Apr 04, 2022
Submitted by: annegp
Region: Lancaster County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Apr 25, 2022
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 10, 2022
Submitted by: Smalltowngirl
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: Mar 26, 2022
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Decatur County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: May 28, 2022
Submitted by: carex17
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 31, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 25, 2022
Observation date: Mar 27, 2018
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 13, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: LynnePatlach
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 30, 2022
Observation date: Apr 13, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 16, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Sumter County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 08, 2022
Observation date: Mar 26, 2022
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 28, 2022
Observation date: Mar 24, 2022
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 26, 2022
Observation date: Mar 01, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 04, 2022
Observation date: Mar 31, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Calhoun County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 19, 2021
Observation date: Apr 30, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Allegany County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 05, 2021
Observation date: Mar 23, 2020
Submitted by: Rob Wu
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Apr 08, 2020
Submitted by: malcolmgold
Region: Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: Barjones78
Region: Woodson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Mar 07, 2021
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Mills County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
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