Thicket hairstreak, Callophrys spinetorum? - Callophrys gryneus

oops, forgot to move it

… David J. Ferguson, 30 April, 2013 - 10:44pm

Those from this area

have been given the subspecies name chalcosiva, and they differ from siva mainly in being less green below (usually). They basically represent the boundary between green siva to the east, and brown things similar to "nelsoni" to the west.

… David J. Ferguson, 30 April, 2013 - 10:42pm

Moved

Moved from Siva Juniper Hairstreak.

… Brian Nielsen, 19 July, 2007 - 12:29pm

"Siva" Juniper Hairstreak

I think this is actually a worn or exceptionally brown Juniper Hairstreak of the siva western subspecies (Callophyrus gryneus siva). The lack of green really threw me off at first, but the postmedian bands fit Juniper and not Thicket. Thicket's bands are smoother and more connected and without the reddish basal border. The hindwing submarginal spots are also too small for Thicket. I have seen a couple Junipers this brown before, so it's not unheard of. Compare the 4th photo here: http://www.kimandmikeontheroad.com/siva_juniper_hairstreak.htm#Siva_JS_01

… Nick Block, 15 July, 2007 - 11:18am

I am certain that you know

I am certain that you know better than I do on how to identify butterflies. This was pretty much my first attempt to identify a butterfly other than monarchs. The basal border seemed to have some black in it particularly in other photos that I have. I think that it had more to do with the lighting in those photos now that you point that out. That in combination with very little green finally convinced me that it was a different species than the other one. I definitely struggled with this one.

As a side note, a friend of mine that has much more experience with plants told me that it was actually a type of rabbitbrush not horsebrush.

Thank you for helping me with this and explaining the characteristics that helped you arrive at that conclusion.

Brian Nielsen

… Brian Nielsen, 19 July, 2007 - 3:38am

No prob!

Happy to help! This individual really is a tricky one. You should move it to the Siva Juniper Hairstreak guide page here: http://bugguide.net/node/view/27033/bgimage
It will be a great bug to illustrate the wide variation possible within that species.

… Nick Block, 19 July, 2007 - 10:10am