Species Phaeostrymon alcestis - Soapberry Hairstreak - Hodges#4274

4274

Thecla alcestis W. H. Edwards, 1871. Type locality: Dallas, Texas

Phaeostrymon alcestis (W. H. Edwards, 1871) Clench, 1961

Thecla osleri Dyar, 1904. Type species: Tucson, Arizona

Phaeostrymon alcestis oslari (Dyar)

Predominantly gray in color (females are brownish above), with tails. Very similar (in appearance and behavior) to some Satyrium species, but on underside white bar at end of discal cell is distinct on all four wings (often dark edged), and dark-edged white postmedian stripes are narrow and nearly continuous on all four wings. Rarely found far from larval host.

sc US, AZ (s. Kansas to Mexico) - MPG

Associated strictly with larval host plants, and usually in open sunny areas. Adults perch on the branches of the trees, and males are pugnacious and somewhat territorial.

Larval host - Western Soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii). Adults are avid flower visitors, often nectoring on the larval host plants, but also favoring a variety of other species, especially Milkweeds or Dogbanes (family Apocynaceae), if available.

Overwinters as eggs laid on twigs, hatch and mature in spring. Adults mostly May to July, varying somewhat based on the latitude, elevation, and weather.

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies of America - BOA