Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

Description:

This is the most common of the hairstreak butterflies. They sit with wings closed, but wiggle them back and forth to use the orange hind eyespot as a distraction to predators. Hairstreaks are identified by the lines and areas around their hind eyespots.

Habitat:

Riparian meadow.

Notes:

Larva feed on flowers and fruits from an almost endless variety of plants; most often from pea (Fabaceae) and mallow (Malvaceae) families including beans (Phaseolus), clovers (Trifolium), cotton (Gossypium), and mallow (Malva).