Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
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The Gray Hairstreak is the most commonly encountered hairstreak in our area. Unlike many hairstreaks, the upper surfaces of the wings are gray and not blue. However, in true hairstreak tradition, the butterflies rarely spread their wings when at rest. Not only do the thin tails resemble antennae (especially when the buttefly wiggles them against each other so they move) and the spots at the rear of the hindwing look like eyes, but the hairstreaks tend to perch with their head at equal height or lower than their rear. If a predator is to strike, it would almost always be fooled into thinking the head is at the wrong end, allowing the butterfly to escape with only a bit of missing hindwing.
The larvae of hairstreaks look like green slugs or the larvae of syrphid flies. Many species of hairstreak are fairly particular in their choice of larval food plant, but the gray hairstreak seems to eat just about anything. The specific identity of the larva shown below is by no means certain, but it is likely that it is a gray hairstreak. Not only is this species common and its colors are variable, but it prefers to eat flowers and fruits, as this one is doing.
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class: Insecta / order: Lepidoptera / family: Lycaenidae / genus: Strymon / species: melinus
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