Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
includes
Callophrys brynei, exoleta, plicataria, rosneri, according to
All-Leps
also see discussion in
Taxonomy Forum and PDF doc by
Opler and WarrenSize
wingspan 25-29 mm in United States (
nearctica.com); 21-27 mm in Canada (
CBIF)
Identification
Adult: upperside of male wings dark brown with some cinnamon-brown patches, particularly on outer third; female has cinnamon-brown wings with contrasting dark brown border on margins; underside brown with violet tint, especially on hindwings; usually irregular white-edged band running length of wings; row of three or four dark spots on hindwings above marginal hoary gray patch
[adapted from description at CBIF]
Larva: has a series of yellow crescent-shaped oblique dashes on each side
Range
southern British Columbia and western Montana, south to California
Habitat
openings in coniferous forests containing the larval foodplant
Season
adults fly from May to July in United States; April to June in Canada
Food
larvae feed on foliage of Western Red-cedar (Thuja plicata) and Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)
adults nectar on flowers of various herbaceous plants
Life Cycle
one generation per year; eggs are laid singly on leaftips of larval foodplant; overwinters as a pupa inside a chrysalis
Remarks
Rosner's Hairstreak (
C. rosneri) is treated as a distinct species by Johnson (1976) and by
Layberry et al (1998) in Butterflies of Canada at CBIF.
Print References
Johnson, K. 1976. Three New Nearctic Species of Callophrys (Mitoura), with a Diagnosis of all Nearctic Consubgeners (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Bulletin of the Allyn Museum 42: 1-62.
Internet References
pinned adult images plus description, biology, flight season, larval and adult foodplants, habitat, US distribution map (nearctica.com)
live adult image by Paul Opler, plus the same text and distribution map as at nearctica.com above (butterfliesandmoths.org)
pinned adult image plus description, distribution, similar species, foodplant, flight season, habitat, remarks (Butterflies of Canada, CBIF)
