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 457 - 480 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 24, 2010
Submitted by: kelly
Region: Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: rickypatterson
Verified date: Sep 20, 2011
Observation date: Aug 29, 2011
Submitted by: Matt ODonnell
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 08, 2011
Observation date: Apr 16, 2011
Submitted by: Matt ODonnell
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 07, 2011
Observation date: May 15, 2011
Submitted by: prizzeldfitzger...
Region: Ellis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: May 23, 2011
Observation date: Apr 18, 2011
Submitted by: wkdewees
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 20, 2011
Observation date: Apr 25, 2011
Submitted by: buggyhunter
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 17, 2011
Observation date: May 06, 2011
Submitted by: CSB in Texas
Region: Texas, Kerr County, United States
Verified by: kmortensen
Verified date: May 06, 2011
Observation date: Sep 14, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL)
Region: Pender County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Sep 09, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. Webb)
Region: Duplin County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Mar 15, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Emmitt)
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 03, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Krakauer)
Region: Durham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Anderson)
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 20, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 12, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL)
Region: Columbus County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 21, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Chris Helms)
Region: Columbus County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 29, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (ASH)
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 10, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Taylor Piephoff / Don Seriff / Mare)
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Anderson)
Region: Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 17, 2003
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL)
Region: Wake County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Mar 30, 2006
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (P. Haywood)
Region: Bladen County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 07, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (D. Carter)
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 30, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (S. Hartley)
Region: Moore County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pitt County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Oct 10, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (SPH,HEL)
Region: Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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