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
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 433 - 456 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: May 03, 2012
Submitted by: naturalist
Region: Texas, Montgomery County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 15, 2011
Submitted by: sgillis
Region: Jefferson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 24, 2012
Submitted by: whbauer
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jun 30, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: fitzclarke@bell...
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Sep 30, 2011
Submitted by: ellenh
Region: Craven County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: harrylegrand
Verified date: Jun 16, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: neldadelina
Region: Texas, Maverick County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Jun 06, 2012
Observation date: Apr 29, 2012
Submitted by: slbaird1957
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: May 03, 2012
Observation date: Apr 29, 2012
Submitted by: KennAtAtmos
Region: Texas, Taylor County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: May 03, 2012
Observation date: Mar 31, 2012
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 27, 2012
Observation date: Jun 28, 2007
Submitted by: Jessileewomack@...
Region: Fannin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Mar 13, 2012
Observation date: Dec 25, 2011
Submitted by: Shay Noggle
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2012
Observation date: Sep 20, 2011
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 18, 2012
Observation date: Apr 22, 2011
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 17, 2012
Observation date: May 19, 2011
Submitted by: cfhayes
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jan 17, 2012
Observation date: Dec 22, 2011
Submitted by: Polarishymn
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 16, 2012
Observation date: Oct 14, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 07, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 29, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jan 26, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Frank Model)
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Nov 25, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Nov 25, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Nov 25, 2011
Observation date: Nov 15, 2011
Submitted by: sleepylittledragon
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Nov 17, 2011
Observation date: Sep 24, 2011
Submitted by: jlmichael
Region: Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: Oct 03, 2011
- ‹ previous
- 19 of 56
- next ›