Colorado Hairstreak
Hypaurotis crysalus (W.H. Edwards, 1873)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Hindwing has slender tail. Upperside dark purple with wide dark border and orange spots at lower outer edge of each wing.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Adults rest in Gambel oaks, and males patrol there for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on twigs of the host tree, then hibernate. Caterpillars eat young leaves in spring.
Flight: One flight from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of oaks, particularly Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) in the beech family (Fagaceae).
Adult Food: Tree sap, raindrops, probably honeydew from aphids and other insects.
Habitat: Oak scrub and oak woodlands.
Range: Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico; north into southern Wyoming, west into eastern Nevada. Comments: The official State Butterfly of Colorado.
Conservation: Not usually required.
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 1 - 24 of 158 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2016
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2022
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: butterfly rose
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: rebeccagracey
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 14, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: dbrudin
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 31, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Las Animas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Jul 28, 2019
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 22, 2019
Observation date: Jul 28, 2016
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 27, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: JulieLuetzelschwab
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2017
Observation date: Aug 07, 2016
Submitted by: allelopath
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 01, 2016
Observation date: Jul 20, 2015
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Graham County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 20, 2015
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