Description ²

A grayish hairstreak with rather limited marking underneath; it is easy to confuse this species with banded, white-M, and even gray hairstreak, in a different genus. The pattern at the edge of the hindwing resembles that of banded hairstreak, with prominent blue spot at the anal angle, an orange spot above it, and usually a few oranges spots running up the margin of the hindwing. But the midwing banding is limited and resemble the pattern found on gray hairstreak, with just a single band of dashes crossing the wings. There is a white spot, often faint and sometimes missing in worn individuals, near the base of the forewing, a mark shared only by white-M hairstreak among our hairstreak species. Vineyard dates for the single flight span from June 22 to July 18. This species is rare to, in occasional years, uncommon on the Vineyard. It is usually found (as its name suggests) in association with oaks.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Pelikan
2. (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0

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