Great Purple Hairstreak
Atlides halesus (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Hindwing with one short and one long tail. Abdomen is blue on top, red-orange beneath. Upperside black with wide-spread iridescent blue. Underside black with iridescent gold markings near tails.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males perch on treetops or other tall objects in the afternoon, watching for receptive females. Caterpillars eat leaves and male flowers of the host plant. Chrysalids hibernate in crevices at base of host tree or under loose bark.
Flight: Three flights from March-December.
Caterpillar Hosts: Mistletoe (Phoradendron species) growing on several tree species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including goldenrod, Hercules club, shepherd's needle, sweet pepperbush, and wild plum.
Habitat: Oak woods, mesquite forests, planted walnuts in agricultural or suburban areas, and mixed woods infested with mistletoe.
Range: Guatemala north to central California, east through Texas and southern Missouri to Maryland.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may 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 265 - 288 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 30, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2017
Observation date: Jun 15, 2017
Submitted by: Beth Polvino
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Aug 03, 2017
Observation date: Jul 28, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Smith
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 29, 2017
Observation date: Jul 23, 2017
Submitted by: Christin21
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2017
Observation date: Jul 15, 2017
Submitted by: mrslmalone
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2017
Observation date: Apr 20, 2017
Submitted by: rosacmchenry@sb...
Region: Texas, McLennan County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2017
Observation date: Oct 14, 2016
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2017
Observation date: Feb 06, 2017
Submitted by: Candyce
Region: Madison County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BGilley
Verified date: May 29, 2017
Observation date: May 01, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2017
Observation date: May 01, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2017
Observation date: Apr 29, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2017
Observation date: Mar 25, 2017
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Crosby County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 09, 2017
Observation date: Mar 30, 2013
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 09, 2017
Observation date: Nov 04, 2012
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 09, 2017
Observation date: Apr 04, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 08, 2017
Observation date: Mar 28, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2017
Observation date: Mar 18, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 24, 2017
Observation date: May 26, 2010
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 23, 2017
Observation date: Feb 24, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 24, 2017
Observation date: Feb 22, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Feb 22, 2017
Observation date: Feb 02, 2017
Submitted by: neflodonata
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 02, 2017
Observation date: Mar 17, 2016
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 29, 2016
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