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Atlides halesus corcorani
2 subspecies recognized: halesus (Cramer, 1777), and corcorani Clench, 1942 (Pelham, 2008). http://butterfliesofamerica.com/atlides_... AKA - Great Blue Hairstreak. 37-50 mm Wingspan. Iridescent bluish green to purple on the thorax and basal half of the wings. Ventrally all of the wings have a crimson spot near the base; ventral forewing otherwise plain brown (female) or brown with patch of blue (male); ventral hind wing with three rows of greenish spots near the apex. Males have a large scent patch on the upper side of the front wing.
Range - ssp. halesus (Cramer, 1777): Mostly Southeastern U.S.A. to New England - ssp. corcorani Clench, 1942: SW Oregon, California, and southwestern U.S. into Mexico. Larvae feed on mistletoe, live oak, western sycamore, and desert ironwood.
It was on my Carolina Cherry Laurel. It preferred at the very top of the tree which stands about 7 feet tall right now. On another note, we do have Mistletoe on trees along our fence line.
Thank you Agnes and auntnance123 ") I went with the subspecies, Atlides halesus corcorani. Atlides halesus seems to have some prominent brown in the hind wings and mostly eastern states.
Very nice series. This is one of my favorite hairstreaks. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/110...