Compared to other wildlife gardening, butterfly meadows take time and are not for the faint of heart. Woodland edges, savanna, and hedgerows that contain a variety of oaks, the main host plant for this species. NJ Status and Distribution: Resident. Similar Species: White M Hairstreak; Additional Information: Adults regularly perch or bask with wings partially open Gray Hairstreak—which is occasionally seen open winged—is larger, has a larger orange spot on HW, 2 longer, more-obvious tails, and a small orange spot on head. The Gray Hairstreak pupa also makes noise. You need to provide for their … Caterpillars range in color from gray to pink. 4) Atala - Found in Tropical areas. Common and widespread. Curly Dock … The Gray Hairstreak is one of the most “polyphagous” butterflies known, which means that it visits a wide variety of host plants. Buckeye (Aesculus) especially California (A. Californica), Oak (Quiercus) especially Black (Q. Velutina), Bur (Q. Macrocarpa), White (Q. Alba), Bush Clover (Lespedeza) especially Hairy Bush (L. hirta), Round Head Bush (L. Capitata), Clover (Melilotus) especially Sour (M. Indicus), Yellow Sweet (M. Officinalis), Tick (Desmodium) including Hoary (D. Canescens), Maryland (D. Marilandica), Trifolium including Red (T. Pratense), White (T. Repens), Vetch (Hippocrepis) including Common (V. Sativa), Hairy (V. Villosa), Baptisia family especially Blue Wild Indigo (B. Australis), Green Wild Indigo (B. Sphaerocarpa), Dock (Rumex) especially Curled/Curly (R. Crispus), Fiddle/Fiddleneck (R. Pulcher), Veined (R. Venosus), Atkinsonia Ligustrina (Loranthaceae with Mistletoe habit), Gaiadendron Punctatum (Loranthaceae with Mistletoe habit), Mistletoe Family including Borer (Phoradendron Tomentosum), Nuytsia Floribunda (Loranthaceae with Mistletoe habit), Bush Clover (Lespedeza) including Hairy-Bush (Lespedeza Capitata), Round-Head (Lespedeza Capitata), California Coffeeberry (Rhamnus Californica), Mallows (Malvaceae) especially Common (M. Neglecta), Little (M.Parviflora), Running (M Rotundifolia), Small-Fruited Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum Halicacabum), Swamp Hibiscus/Texas Star (Hibiscus Coccineus), Velvet-Leaved Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium Viridiflorum), Willow Smartweed (Polygonaceae Lapathifolium), Dock (Rumex)especially Alpine (R. Alpinus), Sorrel (Rumex) especially Sheep's (R. Acetosella), Cedar's (Juniperus) especially Eastern Red (J. Virginiana), Mountain (J. Ashei), Dock (Rumex) especially Curled/Curly (R. Crispus), Veined (R. Venosus), Yellow Sweet Clover (Melilotus Officianlis), Oaks (Quercus) especially Blackjack (Q. Marilandica), Live (Q. Virginiana), Southern Red (Q. Falcata), Cherry (Prunus) especially Black (P. Serotina), Wild (P. Avium), Cherry (Prunus) especially Wild (P. Avium), Currant - Black, Red and White Currants (Ribes), Pines (Pinus) especially Monterey (P. Radiata), Ponderosa (P. Ponderosa), Western Yellow (P. Ponderosa), Desert Horse-Purslane (Trianthema Portulacastrum), Slim-Leaf Goosefoot (Chenopodium Leptophyllum), Oak (Quercus) especially Blackjack (Q. Marilandica), Chapman's (Q. Chapmanii), Laurel (Q. Hemispaerica), Live (Q. Virginiana), Myrtle (Q. Myrtifolia), Shumard's (Q. Shumardii), Turkey (Q. Laevis), Water (Q. Nigra), White (Q. Alba). Downy Milk Pea ( Galactia volubilis) - Host Plant. Leaf detritus (or decomposing leaves) from many plant families. The caterpillars of the gray hairstreak butterfly are just as content with a wide range of food plants as they are with their choices of habitats to reside in, however they do mainly use mallows and legumes as their preferred host plant. Gray Hairstreak "Gray" sounds dull and dingy, but the crisp, clear color of a Gray Hairstreak sparkles. Wild Indigo and Lead Plant host the larvae of Sulfur butterflies. Butterfly Host Plants. Children and adults alike are enthralled with the skippers, blues, and native bees that find Eriogonum irresistible. Bean (Phaseolus) especially Lima (P. Limensis), Garden (P. Vulgaris), Leadwort (Plumbago) especially Cape (P. Auriculata/Capensis), Bean (Phaseolus) especially Honey (P. Glandulosa), Lima (P. Limensis), Mesquite (Prosopis) especially Honey (P. Glandulosa), Mimosa (Acacia) especially Humble Plant (M. Pudica), Sensitive Plant (M. Sensitiva), Cherry (Prunus) including Black (P. Serotina), Plum (Prunus) including Sandhill Plum (P. Angustifolia). That funny “face” is actually not a face at all. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra formosa).The host plant of the Clodius Parnassian (Parnassius clodius).Cusick's Checkermallow (Sidalcea cusickii).A host plant for the West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella), Common Checkered Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and American Lady (suspected) (Vanessa virginiensis). In central California, frequent hosts include ceanothus, mallows, legumes, clover, alfalfa, hollyhocks, and more. A brief summary of host plants that each group prefers is as follows: Back from Hairstreak Butterfly to home page Easy Butterfly Garden, Copyright © 2010-2017 Easy-Butterfly-Garden.comPrivacy Policy Disclaimer. It has 3 broods and can be found flying during most of the butterfly season depending on where you live. Although still considered rare with limited distribution, it is now found in local colonies where its host plant, coontie (Zamia integrifoliaLinnaeus. Elfin's and Azure's also fall under these catagories. Milkweeds, clethra, and Sourwood are among the flowers that provide nectar for Striped Hairstreaks. Males perch on trees and shrubs during the afternoon until dusk, awaiting females. Anonymous users messages may be delayed. Okra ( Abelmoschus esculentus) - Host Plant. Habitat. The Ruddy Daggerwing (Marpesia petreus) is a large butterfly, with the orange upperside marked with three thin black lines.The hindwing has long, black dagger-like tails. Alder (Alnus serrulata) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) American Elm (Ulmus americana) Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) ... Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) Silver Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) Individual Hairstreak butterfly and their host plants. For successful butterfly gardening, you need to provide food for more than the adult butterflies. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), has one flight from May-July in the south and June-July in the north. View Host Plants for Butterflies for All butterfly families click here. You are currently not signed in. Gray Hairstreak uses an extensive list of larval host plants, although mainly mallows and legumes. In the garden, few plants can equal Eriogonum for sheer habitat value.Eriogonums are host plants and nectar plants for butterflies and moths, and are a bonanza for bees and other pollinators looking for summer food. The Gray Hairstreak is one of the most “polyphagous” butterflies known, which means that it visits a wide variety of host plants. If this gets into your butterfly garden listed are a few ways to eradicate it. This list of Hairstreak butterfly host plants covers species found in North America and some Central and South American butterflies. I don't know if the butterfly was attracted to something specific in my yard or if it was just passing through, but it's possible that it found a few potentially appealing plants, including peas and cover crops of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and fava beans (Vicia faba). The Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is one of the most common lycaenids in North America. The caterpillars have evolved to eat from more than 30 plant families. Abundance South Florida, which lies roughly south of Lake Okeechobee, is subtropical and unlike any other region of the mainland U.S. (I don't know what that says about my yard!). Natural gardening includes different types of gardens. This may fool birds, lizards, and spiders into attacking the wrong end. Larval Host Plants: Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), bush clover (Lespedeza spp.) The Atala butterfly, Eumaeus atala Poey, is the largest and most iridescent hairstreak in southeastern Florida. of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Host plants are blooms and fruit of mallow, pea, cotton, clover, beans, and other plants. (pines) Eastern Pine Elfin: Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine) Gray Hairstreak: Populus deltoides (cottonwood) Viceroy Included along with them are Blues and Coppers. Their wings are about 1 to 1 1/4 inches from tip to tip. ... this is probably due to different growth rates of the many different host plants used by gray hairstreaks. Postmedian line is white bordered with black on the inside edge. Plantings of host plants preferred by butterflies do not require any sacrifice of flowers and colors. clover (Trifolium spp. The underside is brown and black, often appearing like a dead leaf. User submitted photo. Habitat: Dry or wet meadows, … Striped Hairtreaks also avidly nectar from Sparkleberry flowers. Host plants are plants that provide food for butterfly or moth larvae (caterpillars). 1) Achmon Blue. Flight: One flight from May-July. Hairstreaks are in the Lycaenidae Family, or Gossamer-Winged butterflies. Underside gray-brown, darker toward wing bases. Different species want different plants, ones that will be a suitable food … Range and habitat. Many of these products help with other garden pests. In central California, frequent hosts include ceanothus, mallows, legumes, clover, alfalfa, hollyhocks, and more. A gray hairstreak butterfly on goldenrod at Guy Park CA in Platte County. It is often found in weedy and disturbed areas. There are the annual, or Iberis, candytuft flowers and also perennials which are called Iberis sempervirens. White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) has three broods in the north from February-October. If you have an account, then sign in now! Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. Due to the decline in the abundance and distribution of its host plant caused by overharvesting the root for starch production by early settlers, the Atala butterfly was thought to be extinct from 1937 until 1959 (Klots 1951; Rawson 1961). (chokeberries) Coral Hairstreak: Pinus spp. Trees. Callophrys sheridanii remains within a range of approximately 6,000–10,000 feet (1,800–3,000 m), living in such environments as sagebrush scrub, dry, brushy hillsides in badlands, chaparral, woodlands, subalpine scree, open hillsides, and on canyon slopes and washes. f.), is used in butterfly gardens o… There are two broods in Wisconsin, starting late April/early May, and four, spanning most of the year, in the south. Flight. We found this funny-“faced” visitor in the garden this summer. Reviewing the types of products available for keeping deer out of our gardens along with building fences. Host and Nectar Plants. 2) American Copper. One brood, late June and July and sometimes into early August. Plants such as yellow sunflower, pink Joe-Pye weed, purple coneflower and purple verbena, yellow Black-eyed Susan, red bee balm/bergamot and purple wild asters provide plentiful color. Chrysalids hibernate in the mistletoe mass. The caterpillars have evolved to eat from more than 30 plant families. Common Partridge Pea ( Chamaecrista fasciculata) - Host Plant. 3) Appalachian Azure. Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. Ruddy Daggerwing Butterfly. Adult butterflies/moths lay their eggs on host plants, then the larvae hatch and eat from the plant before undergoing metamorphosis into butterflies. Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) especially Sheep (R. Acetosella), Hickory (Carya) especially Shag Bark (C. Ovata), Oak (Quercus) especially Bluejack (Q. Marilandica), Bur (Q. Macrocarpa), Southern Red (Q. Falcata), White (Q. Alba), Walnut (Juglans) especially Black (J. Nigra), River/Texas (J. Microcarpa), Dock (Rumex) especially curled/curly (R. Crispus), Water (R. Orbiculatus), Oak (Quercus) escpecially California White, Roble Oak, Valley Oak. The wings range from 1 to 1.25” tip to tip. The Edwards’ Hairstreak always has this row of separated spots, and each spot is surrounded by a white ring. For the rest of us, it may simply be entertaining! 5) Banded Hairstreak. Both tall and short sedums are beloved by butterflies and are great plants for the xeric butterfly garden. To learn more about Sedum, Check out our Sedum article in our articles archive. These small butterflies are common throughout our state. The Gray Hairstreak is a species of butterflies common in almost entire North America and is very common throughout their range. It is called a “hairstreak” because it has slim, hair-like “tails” on each lower hindwing. Common hosts in the wild in New York were reported to be rabbit-foot clover (Trifolium arvense), white clover (T. repens), bush clover (Lespedeza capitata), white sweet-clover (Melilotis alba), and Malva neglecta (Shapiro 1974). HOST PLANTS (By Common Name) ... plants in the same genus are used in other parts of the range of the butterfly. Like several hairstreak butterfly species, Gray Hairstreak butterflies has orange dots on the outside of their wings. Coriander, Dill and Parsley host the larvae of Swallowtails. Butterfly distribution is governed largely by larval host plant distribution: You tend to find a butterfly species near the type of plants that its caterpillars eat. Hogwort/Wooly Croton ( Croton capitatus) - Host Plant. Rated zones 10 and 11 for plant hardiness, temperate and tropical species of plants and animals live here, including butterflies and moths. These garden types create a casual, natural envirionment and help sustain native wildlife which includes butterflies. This host plant has been verified in Alabama: Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum). Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) - Host Plant; Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) - Host and Nectar Plant Goldenrod hosts the larvae of the Baltimore and Silvery Checkerspot and attracts the Monarch, Silver-Spotted Skipper, Clouded Sulpher, Viceroy and Gray Hairstreak butterfly. The Gray Hairstreak (or Common Hairstreak), Strymon melinus, is a common butterfly found in all 48 contiguous states. Like many other butterflies, the Gray Hairstreak is designed to fool predators into mistaking its tail for its head. Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/8 inches (3.2 - 3.5 cm). Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), has three to four flights in the south from February-November and two flights in the north from May-September. ), sweet white clover (Mel), beggarweeds (Desmodium spp.) Host Plant for Dogface sulfur Butterfly Zerene cesonia Gray Hairstreak Butterfly Hypaurotis crysalus (official state insect of Colorado) Larval host plants for the Gray Hairstreak are: Mainly in the families of Legumes Fabaceae, mallows Malvaceae. Including clovers Trifolium spp., bush clovers Lespedeza spp., tick-trefoil Desmodium spp., mallows Malva spp.,and vetches Vicia spp. White Clover ( Trifolium repens) - Host Plant. Its larvae feed on the fruits and flowers of a variety of host plants including several species mallows, members of the pea family, buckwheats, clovers, and many other plants. While generalist species such as the painted lady (Vanessa cardui), orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme), and gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) are able to use many different kinds of plants (Figure 1), some species are more specialized, often using just one or a few larval host plants … Life History: Eggs are laid on the host; caterpillars feed on all exposed parts of the plant. The tiny butterflies belong to the hairstreak group and are often tended by ants in their host plants from which they can very easily be identified. The butterfly is light gray with black and white lines across both wings. Through the Garden Gate … “Knocking on Wood: Trees, Part 2, Oak Tree. Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) is considered a weed in the Poa family, which has a few popular turf grasses. Gray_Hairstreak_8-5-16.JPG. When it is perched with its wings folded, the eyespots and “tails” look like a head. 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Is very common throughout their range of a Gray Hairstreak is a species plants...
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