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 361 - 384 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 09, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 14, 2014
Observation date: Jul 25, 2012
Submitted by: Hester.Burch
Region: St. Marys County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Jan 31, 2014
Observation date: Jul 28, 2012
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Lynn Davidson, Hal Wierenga, Sue Ricciardi)
Region: Wicomico County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Jan 21, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2013
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Patty Craig)
Region: St. Marys County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Jan 21, 2014
Observation date: Jul 21, 2013
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Patty Craig)
Region: St. Marys County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Jan 21, 2014
Observation date: Jan 06, 2014
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 07, 2014
Observation date: Oct 19, 2010
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 11, 2013
Observation date: Feb 06, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 05, 2013
Observation date: Sep 29, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2013
Observation date: Dec 03, 2013
Submitted by: Sparks7
Region: Burnet County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 03, 2013
Observation date: Nov 24, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 26, 2013
Observation date: Dec 19, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2013
Observation date: Oct 28, 2013
Submitted by: BOGwalker
Region: Columbia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 20, 2013
Observation date: Jan 24, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 01, 2013
Observation date: Nov 04, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2013
Observation date: Aug 24, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2013
Observation date: Dec 19, 2012
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 25, 2013
Observation date: Oct 20, 2013
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 21, 2013
Observation date: Jul 26, 2013
Submitted by: Alicia Jackson
Region: Tyrrell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand
Verified date: Oct 18, 2013
Observation date: Sep 05, 2002
Submitted by: giardini57
Region: Elbert County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 17, 2013
Observation date: Sep 08, 2013
Submitted by: dechaffee
Region: Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 09, 2013
Observation date: Aug 11, 2013
Submitted by: davmcnaugh
Region: Caroline County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Aug 14, 2013
Observation date: Aug 06, 2013
Submitted by: Epetersonpt
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 11, 2013
Observation date: May 27, 2008
Submitted by: Annika Lindqvist
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 07, 2013
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