Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus
The spots and hair-like tails on its hindwings mimic a head, tricking birds into attacking the wrong end, allowing the butterfly to escape with only a minor wing tear.
- Scientific name
- Strymon melinus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Lycaenidae › Strymon
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Sunny open areas, meadows, roadsides, suburban gardens, and forest edges.
- Diet
- Adults feed on floral nectar from clover, milkweed, and goldenrod; caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits of legumes, mallows, and hibiscus.
- Range
- North America, Central America, Northern South America
- Size
- Wingspan of 2.2 to 3.5 cm
- Lifespan
- 2 to 3 weeks (as an adult)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Widespread pesticide use in agricultural and urban areas, and habitat loss from intensive mowing.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to humans. You can observe them closely as they nectar on flowers. Avoid handling them directly, as their wings are highly delicate and scales can be easily damaged.
Photo: Michael J. Papay, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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