The Butterflies of the World Foundation

A Non-Profit Organization

Strymon melinus, Pontotoc Ridge Preserve, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, 14 June 2008

                                                                                                Ref #:  I-389-11

Strymon melinus, female ovipositing on Purple Prairie Clover, Dalea purpureum, Pasture 12, Little Missouri National Grassland, McKenzie County, North Dakota, 16 July 2005

                                                                                               Ref #:  I-311-18

Strymon melinus, Killdeer Mountains Wildlife Management Area, Dunn County, North Dakota, 2 May 2004                                                                     Ref #:  I-229-5.3

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 22 September 2005                                                                         Ref #:  I-320-19.3

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 8 October 2005                                                                                Ref #:  I-331-7

Strymon melinus, one half mile south of Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 28 April 2007                                                     Ref #:  I-370-14

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 9 May 2009                                                                                   Ref #:  I-415-8.4

Strymon melinus, with possible strike from bird illustrating false-head mimicry at work, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 14 May 2009

                                                                                              Ref #:  I-418-8.2

Gray Hairstreak

Strymon melinus, Hübner, 1818

Subfamily Theclinae

Tribe Eumaeini

Taxonomy

The family Lycaenidae is a large and varied worldwide group that has 4,000 to 6,000 species depending on the ever-changing taxonomic flux.  They are collectively called Gossamer Butterflies or Gossamer Wings.  The family is further divided into eight subfamilies.  The first is the Theclinae which includes the Hairstreaks, Sunstreaks, Elfins and others.  The second is the Polyommatinae which includes the Blues, Azures, Arguses, Caeruleans and others.  The third subfamily is the Lycaeninae which includes the Coppers, Sapphires, Silverlines and others.  The forth is the Poritiinae which includes the gems.  The fifth is the Miletinae which includes the Brownies, Harvesters, Darkies, Apeflies and others.  The sixth is the Curetinae which includes the Sunbeams.  The seventh family is the Lipteninae which includes about 500 tropical rainforest gossamer wings.  The eighth and final subfamily is the Liphyrinae and includes the Moth Butterflies.

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 17 May 2010                                                                                  Ref #:  I-438-16.1

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General Information:

Strymon melinus belongs to the subfamily Theclinae.  It is found throughout the U.S. from southern Canada south to Venezuela. This is the most widespread hairstreak in North America.  This butterfly is found in open areas from fields, edges of woods, roadsides, gardens and even vacant lots.  

Lifecycle:

Males perch all afternoon on small trees and shrubs to seek receptive females.  Eggs are laid singly on flowers of host plant which includes a wide variety most often from pea (Fabaceae) and mallow (Malvaceae) families including beans (Phaseolus), clovers (Trifolium), cotton (Gossypium), and mallow (Malva).  Eggs are laid singly on flowers of host plant and the young caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits while older ones may eat leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 14 May 2009                                                                                  Ref #:  I-417-19.4

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 14 May 2009                                                                                      Ref #:  I-418-6

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 21 September 2005                                                                             Ref #:  I-317-4

Strymon melinus, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 20 September 2009                                                                          Ref #:  I-433-4.2

Strymon melinus, larva with tending Acrobat Ant, Crematogaster missuriensis, on Frostweed also known as White Crownbeard, Verbesina virginica, Oka’Yanahli Preserve, Johnston County, Oklahoma, 22 September 2012                               Ref #:  I-530-2.2

Strymon melinus, larva with tending Acrobat Ant, Crematogaster missuriensis, on Frostweed also known as White Crownbeard, Verbesina virginica, Oka’Yanahli Preserve, Johnston County, Oklahoma, 22 September 2012                                 Ref #:  I-530-3

Strymon melinus, larva with tending Acrobat Ant, Crematogaster missuriensis, on Frostweed also known as White Crownbeard, Verbesina virginica, Oka’Yanahli Preserve, Johnston County, Oklahoma, 22 September 2012                                  Ref #:  I-530-4

Strymon melinus, larva with tending Acrobat Ant, Crematogaster missuriensis, on Frostweed also known as White Crownbeard, Verbesina virginica, Oka’Yanahli Preserve, Johnston County, Oklahoma, 22 September 2012                                 Ref #:  I-530-5