Nelson's Hairstreak
Callophrys nelsoni (Boisduval, 1869)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Upperside of male is dark brown with rusty orange patches on lower outer edges of wings; female is mostly tawny with dark margins. Underside is brown with a lilac tinge; hindwing postmedian line may be reduced or it is dark and usually outlined in white.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: To seek females, males perch on host trees all day. Eggs are laid singly on tips of host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from May-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), western red-cedar (Thuja plicata).
Adult Food: Flower nectar including buckbrush, pussy-paws, and composites.
Habitat: Openings in coniferous forests.
Range: Southern British Columbia and northwest Montana south through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada to the high-altitude mountains of southern California and Baja California Norte.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 266 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/nelsons_juniper_hairstreak_mmaki_2014.jpg?itok=s55T9mHF)
Observation date: Jul 05, 2014
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 01, 2019
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc07845_2.jpg?itok=mWSWH4QF)
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc09046b.jpg?itok=SZt3Y8fJ)
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/_d855992.jpg?itok=eo9RebH1)
Observation date: Jun 07, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 05, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/img_2687_0.jpg?itok=1nAsivoU)
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/p1660765.jpg?itok=6AE4blQG)
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/p1620963.jpg?itok=1kEgOtz5)
Observation date: May 19, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/gold-hunters_hairstreak_1_d.jpg?itok=99uPB9S0)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Madera County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 26, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/id_help_2_6-15-2017.jpg?itok=9KKk4XLD)
Observation date: Jun 15, 2017
Submitted by: pauhana
Region: Calaveras County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1730708_0.jpg?itok=feGn8qS5)
Observation date: Jun 19, 2016
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1426_nelsons_hairstreak_callophrys_nelsoni.jpg?itok=1w2HO-OP)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2016
Submitted by: TPeterson
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1433_nelsons_hairstreak_callophrys_nelsoni.jpg?itok=E1JcBEB_)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2016
Submitted by: TPeterson
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/unnamed-1_1.jpg?itok=Sjz-W992)
Observation date: Jun 19, 2016
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1730708.jpg?itok=ZzNhI7-m)
Observation date: Jun 19, 2016
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p6160349.jpg?itok=HMHwZvP0)
Observation date: Jun 16, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/nelsons_hairstreak_-_kootenai_nwr_04-30-2015.jpg?itok=zrGyOqMz)
Observation date: Apr 30, 2015
Submitted by: markmcc
Region: Kootenai County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jul 27, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1670478.jpg?itok=mLXn9MbR)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2015
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/mitoura_grynea_lindell_haggin_0.jpg?itok=PysuSAp6)
Observation date: Jun 10, 2013
Submitted by: Lindell Haggin
Region: Shoshone County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 09, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/image_1981.jpg?itok=4bCyQNDe)
Observation date: May 20, 2014
Submitted by: gritgirlwa
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 22, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/cedar_hairstreak_1.jpg?itok=LDwv4tmN)
Observation date: May 14, 2014
Submitted by: Melanie Weiss
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 15, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1149_1.jpg?itok=KRFK-pw4)
Observation date: May 05, 2013
Submitted by: carex17
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 02, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1010516_0.jpg?itok=da8ZofFG)
Observation date: Jun 11, 2010
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 14, 2013
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
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