Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly Images

Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly Images, Facts and Information:

Hypaurotis crysalus

• Colorado Hairstreak butterflies are small to medium-sized butterflies with a wingspan of 1.25-1.5 inches. Colorado Hairstreak butterflies have purple wings with dark borders and orange spots on the lower outer edges. The underside of their wings is light blue with faint dark bands and orange spots.
• Colorado Hairstreaks are found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, primarily in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. They inhabit oak scrublands and woodlands at elevations between 6,500 and 7,500 feet.
• Colorado Hairstreaks prefer Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) as their primary host plant. Adults feed on tree sap, raindrops, and honeydew secreted by insects rather than flower nectar.
• Colorado Hairstreaks lay single eggs on oak twigs in late summer. The eggs overwinter and caterpillars emerge in spring to feed on young oak leaves.
• Colorado Hairstreaks have one flight period annually, usually from mid-June to August.
• Adult Colorado Hairstreaks have a short lifespan of about two weeks.

I hope you enjoy viewing my Colorado Hairstreak butterfly photos.