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 313 - 336 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 05, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 07, 2016
Observation date: Mar 22, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 29, 2016
Observation date: Mar 22, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 25, 2016
Observation date: Sep 07, 2009
Submitted by: M. Moore
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 03, 2016
Observation date: Mar 03, 2016
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Burnet County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 03, 2016
Observation date: Nov 21, 2015
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 24, 2015
Observation date: Oct 22, 2015
Submitted by: ktnbcn
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2015
Observation date: Sep 11, 2015
Submitted by: vldeloach
Region: Cherokee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 15, 2015
Observation date: Oct 07, 2015
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 12, 2015
Observation date: Oct 05, 2015
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 07, 2015
Observation date: Sep 24, 2015
Submitted by: naturecoastnatu...
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2015
Observation date: Sep 28, 2015
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 29, 2015
Observation date: Sep 17, 2015
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 17, 2015
Observation date: Aug 22, 2015
Submitted by: scout97432
Region: Douglas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 27, 2015
Observation date: Apr 29, 2015
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2015
Observation date: May 04, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 22, 2015
Observation date: May 05, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 22, 2015
Observation date: Jun 03, 2015
Submitted by: Barb Selvage
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 03, 2015
Observation date: May 14, 2015
Submitted by: KKB530
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 14, 2015
Observation date: Apr 27, 2015
Submitted by: Kayaksailor
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 30, 2015
Observation date: Apr 15, 2015
Submitted by: tjdunkerton
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
Observation date: Mar 30, 2015
Submitted by: unpopeular
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2015
Observation date: Mar 19, 2015
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2015
Observation date: Oct 19, 2014
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Feb 23, 2015
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