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For the United States & Canada
Photo#1479179
Shadowed Hairstreak

Shadowed Hairstreak "Michaelus ira" - Michaelus ira
Bensten-Palm Drive, Texas, Hidalgo County, Texas, USA
December 23, 2017
Found perched high on an Esperanza bush along Bentsen-Palm Drive. While looking for Marius and Yojoa Hairstreaks, I photographed this rather darkish Hairstreak with a single white broken band on VFW and a double broken white band that runs down hindwing past two orange spots. Didn't fit Marius, so I emailed my 2 photos to Mike Rickard who confirmed that these photos are of a Shadowed Hairstreak. Mike found the first US record back in November of 2015, during a group outing to Hugh Ramsey Park, Harlingen. That sighting was eventually confirmed by Andy Warren, McGuire Center as a "Michaelus ira". Note this blog: https://leplog.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/field-notes-first-us-record-shadowed-hairstreak/. Then this past fall, the species was found along Bentsen-Palm Drive where I found it on the 23rd of December. Beyond this, I've no idea what information there is on this fairly new US species. But wanted a record uploaded to bugguide. I also uploaded to BAMONA...

Images of this individual: tag all
Shadowed Hairstreak - Michaelus ira Shadowed Hairstreak

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