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 169 - 192 of 1326 verified sightings
Observation date: May 12, 2020
Submitted by: Jettabetta
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 13, 2020
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: hfitting
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 03, 2020
Observation date: Apr 30, 2020
Submitted by: dolores.gladtid...
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 30, 2020
Observation date: Apr 25, 2020
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 30, 2020
Observation date: Apr 02, 2020
Submitted by: Newton-W
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 29, 2020
Observation date: Apr 14, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 24, 2020
Observation date: Apr 22, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2020
Observation date: Apr 19, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Pranty
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Dec 18, 2011
Submitted by: Bill Pranty
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 04, 2020
Submitted by: Ranger Karen
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 14, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 16, 2020
Observation date: Mar 30, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2020
Observation date: Mar 16, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Culberson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Mar 21, 2020
Observation date: Mar 06, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 10, 2020
Observation date: Feb 16, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 17, 2020
Observation date: Dec 04, 2003
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
Observation date: Nov 21, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
Observation date: Mar 13, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 22, 2020
Observation date: Jan 02, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 14, 2020
Observation date: Jan 05, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 06, 2020
Observation date: Dec 16, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 17, 2019
Observation date: Nov 29, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 29, 2019
Observation date: Nov 18, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 19, 2019
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