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 385 - 408 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 30, 2013
Submitted by: Christine.Rogers
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2013
Observation date: Apr 28, 2013
Submitted by: Pawparrazzi
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2013
Observation date: Apr 03, 2013
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2013
Observation date: Apr 20, 2013
Submitted by: KimL
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 20, 2013
Observation date: Mar 31, 2013
Submitted by: Kari
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 15, 2013
Observation date: Mar 29, 2013
Submitted by: Rhinorse
Region: Creek County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Apr 06, 2013
Observation date: Mar 17, 2013
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 24, 2013
Observation date: Mar 16, 2013
Submitted by: Laurie Sheppard
Region: Grayson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 18, 2013
Observation date: Mar 08, 1971
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: Mar 14, 2013
Observation date: Mar 08, 1971
Submitted by: stomlins701
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: Mar 14, 2013
Observation date: Mar 02, 2013
Submitted by: ccarey
Region: Hood County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Mar 12, 2013
Observation date: Feb 16, 2013
Submitted by: birdsherriff
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: aahewetson
Verified date: Feb 21, 2013
Observation date: Dec 10, 2012
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 13, 2012
Observation date: Oct 12, 2012
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Dec 07, 2012
Observation date: Dec 11, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 23, 2012
Submitted by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Region: Jefferson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 28, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Feb 13, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael Smith)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 18, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (William S. Swisher)
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Feb 25, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 08, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Patsy Harris Russo)
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: vitaly charny (Vitaly Charny)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 19, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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