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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters (Lycaenidae) » Hairstreaks (Theclinae) » Eumaeini » Strymon » Gray Hairstreak - Hodges#4336 (Strymon melinus)
Photo#83994
Small pinkish looking insect - Strymon melinus
Copyright © 2006 N OBanion

Small pinkish looking insect - Strymon melinus
Harrington, Kent County, Delaware, USA
Size: 1/2 inch
A few of these have appeared on my sedums. Over a few days they change colors. Very unusual color. Wondering if they adapt to what they are on. Can anyone tell me if they are a caterpillar of some sort, or something else. Thank you.

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Small pinkish looking insect - Strymon melinus Small pinkish looking insect - Strymon melinus
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Contributed by N OBanion on 20 October, 2006 - 11:19am
Last updated 2 October, 2009 - 9:43pm

Moved
Moved from Gossamer Winged Butterflies.
… john and jane balaban, 2 October, 2009 - 9:43pm login or register to post comments

Strymon
Should be Strymon melinus the Gray Hairstreak. I believe the location, hostplant, and setae type (simple long hairs, rather than course granular stars or stubs) rule all others out. The chevron type patterning is also consistent.
… Sam Jaffe, 2 October, 2009 - 9:33pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Butterflies and Moths.
… john and jane balaban, 6 November, 2006 - 5:20pm login or register to post comments

not Spring Azure
Hi, Spring Aure is single brooded and only eats Flowering Dogwood blossums and Sedium does not bloom when dogwood does, so there is no way it could be C. ladon. Nor would it be any of the other "spring" azure types due to time of year. Although it might be Summer Spring Azure (Celastrina neglecta) which has many broods and eats all kinds of flowers. I've no caterpillar guide so I can't say for certain.
… Randy Emmitt, 20 October, 2006 - 3:07pm login or register to post comments

Caterpillar, yes...
...and probably from the Spring Azure (_Celastrina ladon_) if the pictures in my guide to caterpillars are accurate. The others that look similar don't occur in your area.

Lovely pictures!
… E Moon, 20 October, 2006 - 1:29pm login or register to post comments

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