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 121 - 144 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: May 04, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 05, 2021
Observation date: Apr 18, 2021
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: Birdieme
Region: Brooks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 25, 2021
Observation date: Apr 22, 2021
Submitted by: surimi
Region: Bee County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 24, 2021
Observation date: Apr 16, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2021
Observation date: Mar 15, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 06, 2016
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2013
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 01, 2011
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 09, 2010
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 01, 2008
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 24, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: May 12, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 14, 2007
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Mar 23, 1990
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 1987
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 1983
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: May 24, 1981
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 04, 2016
Submitted by: Irvine
Region: Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 10, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: Thectdeans
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 16, 2019
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 03, 2021
Observation date: Aug 26, 2016
Submitted by: Brian Taber (Bain Schultz)
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: juniper@erols.com
Region: Northumberland County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Dec 30, 2020
Observation date: Dec 08, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 10, 2020
- ‹ previous
- 6 of 56
- next ›