ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Butterflies and Skippers - Gray Hairstreak

 Gray Hairstreak


Photo by Richard Day/Daybreak Imagery

 		 This butterfly is an immigrant to Ohio from the south. It may be able to overwinter during mild winters, but this is rare. For these reasons, the gray hairstreak is most common in southern Ohio during late summer and fall.
 

Gray Hairstreak
Strymon melinus

At-a-Glance

• Flight Period: April, May, July, August, September, and October

• Wings: 1.1 - 1.4 inches


 
Description
Hairstreaks get their name from "hair-like" tails that extend from their hindwings. An "eye spot" of red or blue usually accompanies the tails. This tail is thought to function as a protective device that fools predators into thinking it is the antennae or head of the butterfly.

Habitat and Habits
The gray hairstreak inhabits fields, power cuts, roadsides, and most other open areas. It is mainly found in southern Ohio; on occasion it reaches northern Ohio. In some years the gray hairstreak is absent from the state.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
The larvae of the gray hairstreak feed on members of the pea and mallow families. In Ohio, larvae are known to feed on tick trefoil and bush clover. In the south it can become an agricultural pest.