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 49 - 72 of 1355 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/frosted_elfin_dsc0124_4-29-2010_1-10-48_pmc.jpg?itok=6Q_B5c6X)
Observation date: Apr 29, 2010
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 29, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_indv2.jpg?itok=jEvdQwvI)
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 19, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3723_4.jpg?itok=6jLP3fO4)
Observation date: May 07, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 09, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2499_0.jpg?itok=BHkcFZKH)
Observation date: May 02, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 03, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/butt501henrys_elfin.jpg?itok=UrOCOc_s)
Observation date: May 01, 2021
Submitted by: djarrow
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 02, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2488_2.jpg?itok=9-1kJWkR)
Observation date: May 02, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 02, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_42021.jpg?itok=Yg1wsaMr)
Observation date: Apr 20, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 22, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_9835_3.jpg?itok=Q3zUGOYK)
Observation date: Apr 20, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 20, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19950320chenrimodstajeffdavistx.jpg?itok=Ay3RS_MF)
Observation date: Mar 20, 1995
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Jeff Davis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19850413chenrimckttrkculbrsntx.jpg?itok=HDdX-6kD)
Observation date: Apr 13, 1985
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Culberson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1290961.jpg?itok=FDp5HUXB)
Observation date: Mar 09, 2018
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/chenriciguads20100409dsc01693.jpg?itok=ViO7P1a_)
Observation date: Apr 09, 2010
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19930519chenrifllmrdonaananm.jpg?itok=ipk5KziA)
Observation date: May 19, 1993
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19930411chenrlstchcyneddynm.jpg?itok=OL9IS-06)
Observation date: Apr 11, 1993
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19930403chnrifllmrcndonananm.jpg?itok=D6cOLmXi)
Observation date: Apr 03, 1993
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19880402chenristtingblleddynm.jpg?itok=442ytnvk)
Observation date: Apr 02, 1988
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_img_8557.jpg?itok=Lo5YsFNU)
Observation date: Mar 24, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/the_henrys_elfinrje.jpg?itok=TF7KXcFk)
Observation date: Mar 21, 2021
Submitted by: robert.emond
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_img_8089_2.jpg?itok=Y3I6W-Ko)
Observation date: Mar 19, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_img_0631.jpg?itok=ZkQ55uZV)
Observation date: Mar 18, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/437a2029.jpg?itok=FTr5ktph)
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: dawittrock2231
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_hampton_plantation_state_park_mar_15_2021_1400_h_2mp.jpg?itok=nEiyztbH)
Observation date: Mar 15, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Dennis Allen)
Region: South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 19, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_img_7786.jpg?itok=SjiChDva)
Observation date: Mar 04, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 06, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/henrys_elfin_2.jpg?itok=YUOa4yqH)
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 10, 2021
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