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Project Noah Nature School
Calycopis cecrops
Two tails on the hindwing. Upperside brown, hindwing blue. Underside gray-brown with white postmedian line edged with red-orange. Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.2 - 3.2 cm).
The bloom is of a silver and gold groundcover, Ajania pacifica. It has bright golden-yellow button-like flowers that adorn the plant in late fall.
Spotted on Dec 2, 2012
Submitted on Dec 7, 2012
2 Comments
Yes, the hairstreaks have the hindwing eyespots and tails. They sit with the wings closed and move them back and forth as to distract predators. A strike to the rear is less fatal than the head. When teaching butterfly ID, once I point out a hairstreak and its behavior, everyone begins to notice these small wonders.
I saw one like this and it moved its little tails I think to appear like another face.