List of Butterflies of North America (Lycaenidae)

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Gossamer-wings are our smallest butterflies. Their wingspans range from 0.5-2.0 inches (1.2-5.1cm). There are about 7,000 species worldwide with about 139 species in North America. Gossamer-wings include the subfamilies Hairstreaks, Harvesters, Coppers, and Blues. Their flights vary from the fast, erratic Hairstreaks to the slow, bouncy Blues. They like to feed at flowers, and males like to puddle at damp ground. Most male Gossamer-wings locate females by perching, while some males patrol. The turban-shaped eggs are usually laid singly. The larva is oval-shaped with a flattened underside. Some species have honeydew glands that attract ants. Ants like to eat and collect the honeydew made by the caterpillar. In turn, the ants will swarm over anything that might try to harm the larva. The chrysalis is usually formed in leaf litter. Many chrysalises can make faint noises. Scientists believe this noise might ward off predatory ants.

ubfamily Theclinae: Hairstreaks

* Gray Hairstreak, "Strymon melinus"

* Avalon Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon avalona"

* White M Hairstreak, "Parrhasius m-album"

* Banded Hairstreak, "Satyrium calanus"

* Hickory Hairstreak, "Satyrium caryaevorum"

* Edward's Hairstreak, "Satyrium edwardsii"

* King's Hairstreak, "Satyrium kingi"

* Striped Hairstreak, "Satyrium liparops"

* Oak Hairstreak, "Satyrium favonius"

* Ilavia Hairstreak, "Satyrium ilavia"

* Poling's Hairstreak, "Satyrium polingi"

* Soapberry Hairstreak, "Phaeostrymon alcestis"

* Acadian Hairstreak, "Satyrium acadica"

* California Hairstreak, "Satyrium californica"

* Sylvan Hairstreak, "Satyrium sylvinus"

* Coral Hairstreak, "Satyrium titus"

* Hedgerow Hairstreak, "Satyrium saepium"

* Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak, "Satyrium tetra"

* Gold-hunter's Hairstreak, "Satyrium auretorum"

* Behr's Hairstreak, "Satyrium behrii"

* Sooty Hairstreak, "Satyrium fuliginosum"

* Red-banded Hairstreak, "Calycopis cecrops"

* Dusky-blue Groundstreak, "Calycopis isobeon"

* Fulvous Hairstreak, "Electrostrymon angelia"

* Ruddy Hairstreak, "Electrostrymon sangala"

* Muted Hairstreak, "Electrostrymon canus"

* Brown Elfin, "Callophrys augustinus"

* Henry's Elfin, "Callophrys henrici"

* Frosted Elfin, "Callophrys irus"

* Hoary Elfin, "Callophrys polios"

* Eastern Pine Elfin, "Callophrys niphon"

* Western Pine Elfin, "Callophrys eryphon"

* Bog Elfin, "Callophrys lanoraieensis"

* Desert Elfin, "Callophrys fotis"

* Moss's Elfin, "Callophrys mossii"

* Great Purple Hairstreak, "Atlides halesus"

* Atala, "Eumaeus atala"

* Colorado Hairstreak, "Hypaurotia crysalus"

* Golden Hairstreak, "Habrodais grunus"

* Creamy Stripe-Streak, "Arawacus jada"

* Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus"

* "Olive" Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus gryneus"

* "Sweadner's" Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus sweadneri"

* "Siva" Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus siva"

* "Nelson's" Juniper Hiarstreak, "Callophrys gryneus nelsoni"

* "Muir's" Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus muiri"

* "Loki's" Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus loki"

* "Thorne's Juniper Hairstreak, "Callophrys gryneus thornei"
* Hessel's Hairstreak, "Callophrys hesseli"

* Bramble Hairstreak, "Callophrys dumetorum/perplexa"

* Sheridan's Hairstreak, "Callophrys sheridanii"

* Thicket Hairstreak, "Callophrys spinetorum"

* Johnson's Hairstreak, "Callophrys johnsoni"

* Arizona Hairstreak, "Erora quaderna"

* Early Hairstreak, "Erora laeta"

* Sandia Hairstreak, "Callophrys mcfarlandi"

* Xami Hairstreak, "Callophrys xami"

* Silver-banded Hairstreak, "Chlorostrymon simaethis"

* Amethyst Hairstreak, "Chlorostrymon maesites"

* Clench's Greenstreak, "Cyanophrys miserabilis"

* Goodson's Greenstreak, "Cyanophrys goodsoni"

* Tropical Hairstreak, "Cyanophrys herodotus"

* Leda Ministreak, "Ministrymon leda"

* Clytie Ministreak, "Ministrymon clytie"

* Gray Ministreak, "Ministrymon azia"

* Sonoran Hairstreak, "Hypostrymon critola"

* Red-spotted Hairstreak, "Tmolus echion"

* Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon istapa"

* Martial Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon martialis"

* Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon acis"

* Red-lined Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon bebrycia"

* Lacey's Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon alea"

* Red-crescent Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon rufofusca"

* Tailless Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon cestri"

* Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon bazochii"

* Yojoa Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon yojoa"

* White Scrub-Hairstreak, "Strymon albata"

ubfamily Miletinae: Harvesters

* Harvester, "Feniseca tarquinius"

ubfamily Lycaeninae: Coppers

* American Copper, "Lycaena phlaeas"

* Gray Copper, "Lycaena dione"

* Great Copper, "Lycaena xanthoides"

* Edith's Copper, "Lycaena editha"

* Dorcas Copper, "Lycaena dorcas"

* Purplish Copper, "Lycaena helloides"

* Bog Copper, "Lycaena epixanthe"

* Lustrous Copper, "Lycaena cupreus"

* Ruddy Copper, "Lycaena rubidus"

* Blue Copper, "Lycaena heteronea"

* Bronze Copper, "Lycaena hyllus"

* Lilac-bordered Copper, "Lycaena nivalis"

* Mariposa Copper, "Lycaena mariposa"

* Gorgon Copper, "Lycaena goron"

* Tailed Copper, "Lycaena arota"

* Hermes Copper, "Lycaena hermes"

ubfamily Polyommatinae: Blues

[
Glaucopsyche lygdamus".]
* Eastern Tailed-Blue, "Everes comyntas"

* Western Tailed-Blue, "Everes amyntula"

* Silvery Blue, "Glaucopsyche lygdamus"

* Arrowhead Blue, "Glaucopsyche piasus"

* Marine Blue, "Leptotes marina"

* Cassius Blue, "Leptotes cassius"

* Eastern Pygmy Blue, "Brephidium isophthalma"

* Western Pygmy Blue, "Brephidium exile"

* Cyna Blue, "Zizula cyna"

* Ceraunus Blue, "Hemiargus ceraunus"

* Reakirt's Blue, "Hemiargus isola"

* Nickerbean Blue, "Cyclargus ammon"

* Miami Blue, "Cyclargus thomasi"

* Sonoran Blue, "Philotes sonorensis"

* Spring Azure, "Celastrina ladon"

* "Summer" Azure, "Celastrina ladon neglecta"

* "Hops" Azure, "Celastrina ladon humulus"

* "Holly" Azure, "Celastrina ladon idella"

* Appalachian Azure, "Celastrina neglectamajor"

* Dusy Azure, "Celastrina nigra"

* Acmon Blue, "Plebejus acmon"

* Lupine Blue, "Plebejus lupinus"

* Veined Blue, "Plebejus neurona"

* San Emigdio Blue, "Plebejus emigdionis"

* Boisduval's Blue, "Plebejus icarioides"

* Greenish Blue, "Plebejus saepiolus"

* Melissa Blue, "Lycaeides melissa"

* Northern Blue, "Lycaeides idas"

* Shasta Blue, "Plebejus shasta"

* Arctic Blue, "Agriades glandon"

* "Rustic" Arctic Blue, "Agriades glandon rustica"

* "Sierra" Arctic Blue, "Agriades glandon podarce"

* Heather Blue, "Agriades cassiope"

* Cranberry Blue, "Vacciniina optilete"

* Square-spotted Blue, "Euphilotes battoides"

* "Bernardino" Blue, "Euphilotes battoides bernardino"

* "Bauer's" Blue, "Euphilotes battoides baueri"

* "Ellis's" Blue, "Euphilotes battoides ellisi"

* "Central" Blue, "Euphilotes battoides centralis"

* Spalding's Blue, "Euphilotes spaldingi"

* Dotted Blue, "Euphilotes enoptes"

* "Mojave" Dotted Blue, "Euphilotes enoptes mojave"

* "Ancilla" Dotted Blue, "Euphilotes enoptes ancilla"

* Rita Blue, "Euphilotes rita"

* Small Blue, "Philotiella speciosa"

References

*Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman (2003). "Butterflies of North America." Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-15312-8.