Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Martial Scrub-Hairstreak
Strymon martialis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1865)


Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: One long and one short tail on hindwing. Upperside black with some blue patches. Below, hindwing has distinct black and white postmedian line and a large, blurry submarginal orange eyespot.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.8 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Young caterpillars feed on new leaves, flowers, and fruits; full-grown caterpillars can feed on older leaves.
Flight: From February-December; the number of broods is unknown.
Caterpillar Hosts: Florida trema (Trema micrantha) and bay cedar (Suriana maritima).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including bay cedar, lantana, Brazilian pepper, tournefortia, shepherd's needle, and lippia.
Habitat: Sunny areas and fields near the coast.
Range: Southern Florida and the Keys, West Indies.
Conservation: All populations should be conserved.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Prevent habitat destruction or loss of host plants to competition from exotic plants.
Comments: NULL
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