Callophrys gryneus
Encyclopedia
The Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys [=Mitoura] gryneus) is a butterfly
native to North America
. It belongs in the family Lycaenidae
.
The Juniper Hairstreak has many subspecies or races, some of which may even be separate species. The upper side of the "Olive" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus gryneus) is tawny orange or a bronzy color in males, and blackish brown in females. The underside of the wings is bright green with a variable amount of brown scaling. There are two white postbasal spots and a white zigzag postmedian line edged inward with brown on the hind wing.
"Sweadner's" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus sweadneri) is very similar to the gryneus race except the two white postbasal spots are reduced.
The "Siva" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) is also similar to the gryneus race. It lacks the postbasal spots, the postmedian line is straight, and some individuals are brown. Intermediates of the gryneus and siva races occur in west Texas
and New Mexico
.
The underside of "Nelson's" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus nelsoni) is brown with a violet sheen; the white postmedian line is faint, sometimes partial or absent; and the postbasal spots are lacking.
"Muir's" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus muiri) is similar to the nelsoni race except the underside of the wings are a darker brown with a purplish-greenish tint, and the postmedian line is partial to complete.
The underside of the "Loki" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus loki) is green to purplish-brown. Inward of the white postmedian line, the hind wing often has a dark band.
"Thorne's Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus thornei) is quite similar to the loki race except it usually lacks green more often being a violet-brown to a brownish-gray color.
on cedar trees, where they perch in search of females. Often, males can be set in flight by gently shaking the trees. Females lay their eggs
singly at the tip of host plant leaves. The eggs are pale green with white ridges. The larva
e are vivid green with a faint middorsal stripe that begins at the thorax and runs down the abdomen. Whitish-yellow spots occur on either side of the middorsal stripe. A whitish-yellow subspiracular stripe (sometimes broken between segments) runs the length of the body. The chrysalis of the gryneus race is brown to pale brown and is mottled with black with the abdomen being a bit reddish. Chrysalids of western races are dark brown. The Juniper Hairstreak overwinter
s as a chrysalis. The gryneus race has 2 broods per year; sweadneri, 2 broods per year; siva, 2-3 broods per year; nelsoni, 1 brood; muiri, 1 brood; loki, 1-2 broods; and the thornei race has 1 brood per year.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
native to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It belongs in the family Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
.
Description
For a key to the terms used see Lepidopteran glossaryGlossary of Lepidopteran terms
This glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
The Juniper Hairstreak has many subspecies or races, some of which may even be separate species. The upper side of the "Olive" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus gryneus) is tawny orange or a bronzy color in males, and blackish brown in females. The underside of the wings is bright green with a variable amount of brown scaling. There are two white postbasal spots and a white zigzag postmedian line edged inward with brown on the hind wing.
"Sweadner's" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus sweadneri) is very similar to the gryneus race except the two white postbasal spots are reduced.
The "Siva" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus siva) is also similar to the gryneus race. It lacks the postbasal spots, the postmedian line is straight, and some individuals are brown. Intermediates of the gryneus and siva races occur in west Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
The underside of "Nelson's" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus nelsoni) is brown with a violet sheen; the white postmedian line is faint, sometimes partial or absent; and the postbasal spots are lacking.
"Muir's" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus muiri) is similar to the nelsoni race except the underside of the wings are a darker brown with a purplish-greenish tint, and the postmedian line is partial to complete.
The underside of the "Loki" Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus loki) is green to purplish-brown. Inward of the white postmedian line, the hind wing often has a dark band.
"Thorne's Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus thornei) is quite similar to the loki race except it usually lacks green more often being a violet-brown to a brownish-gray color.
Similar Species
The Hessel's Hairstreak (Callophrys hesseli) is the only similar species in the Juniper Hairstreak's range. The Hessel's Hairstreak is similar to the gryneus and sweadneri races. It is often more of a blue-green color, the postmedian line is edged with brown on both sides, and it has a white spot near the fore wing costa.Habitat
Habitats include bluffs, open fields, barrens, and dry or rocky open places. They are almost always found near or on junipers in these habitats.Life cycle
Males are highly territorialTerritory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
on cedar trees, where they perch in search of females. Often, males can be set in flight by gently shaking the trees. Females lay their eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
singly at the tip of host plant leaves. The eggs are pale green with white ridges. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e are vivid green with a faint middorsal stripe that begins at the thorax and runs down the abdomen. Whitish-yellow spots occur on either side of the middorsal stripe. A whitish-yellow subspiracular stripe (sometimes broken between segments) runs the length of the body. The chrysalis of the gryneus race is brown to pale brown and is mottled with black with the abdomen being a bit reddish. Chrysalids of western races are dark brown. The Juniper Hairstreak overwinter
Overwinter
To overwinter is to pass through or wait out the winter season, or to pass through that period of the year when “winter” conditions make normal activity or even survival difficult or near impossible...
s as a chrysalis. The gryneus race has 2 broods per year; sweadneri, 2 broods per year; siva, 2-3 broods per year; nelsoni, 1 brood; muiri, 1 brood; loki, 1-2 broods; and the thornei race has 1 brood per year.
Host Plants
Here is a list of host plants used by the Juniper Hairstreak:- Eastern Redcedar, Juniperus virginianaJuniperus virginianaJuniperus virginiana is a species of juniper native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, east of the Great Plains...
(Used by the gryneus and sweadneri races.) - Southern Redcedar, Juniperus silicicola (Used by the gryneus and sweadneri races.)
- California Incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrensCalocedrus decurrensCalocedrus decurrens is a species of conifer native to western North America, with the bulk of the range in the United States, from central western Oregon through most of California and the extreme west of Nevada, and also a short distance into northwest Mexico in northern Baja California...
(Used by the nelsoni race.) - Western Redceder, Thuja plicataThuja plicataThuja plicata, commonly called Western or pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae, giant cedar, or shinglewood, is a species of Thuja, an evergreen coniferous tree in the cypress family Cupressaceae native to western North America...
(Used by the nelsoni race.) - Sargeant's Cypress, Cupressus sargentiiCupressus sargentiiCupressus sargentii is a species of conifer in the Cupressaceae family known by the common name Sargent's cypress. It is endemic to California, where it is known from Mendocino county southwards to Santa Barbara county. This taxon is limited to the Coast Range mountains. Like Mcnab Cypress, it...
(Used by the muiri race.) - Tecate Cypress, Cupressus forbesiiCupressus forbesiiCupressus forbesii is a species of cypressin western North America. -Distribution:Cupressus forbesii is native to chaparral and woodlands habitats and grows at...
(Used by the thornei race.) - Common Juniper, Juniperus communisJuniperus communisJuniperus communis, the Common Juniper, is a species in the genus Juniperus, in the family Cupressaceae. It has the largest range of any woody plant, throughout the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere from the Arctic south in mountains to around 30°N latitude in North America, Europe and Asia.-...
(Used by the siva race.) - Alligator Juniper, Juniperus deppeanaJuniperus deppeanaJuniperus deppeana is a small to medium-sized tree reaching 10-15 m tall. It is native to central and northern Mexico and the southwestern United States...
(Used by the siva race.) - Utah Juniper, Juniperus osteospermaJuniperus osteospermaJuniperus osteosperma is a shrub or small tree reaching 3-6 m tall. It is native to the southwestern United States, in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, western New Mexico, western Colorado, Wyoming, southern Montana, southern Idaho and eastern California...
(Used by the siva race.) - Rocky Mountain Juniper, Juniperus scopulorumJuniperus scopulorumJuniperus scopulorum is a species of juniper native to western North America, in Canada in British Columbia and southwest Alberta, in the United States from Washington east to North Dakota, south to Arizona and also locally western Texas, and northernmost Mexico from Sonora east to Coahuila...
(Used by the siva race.) - Ashe Juniper, "Juniperus asheiJuniperus asheiJuniperus ashei is a drought-tolerant evergreen shrub or small tree, native to northeastern Mexico and the south-central United States north to southern Missouri; the largest areas are in central Texas, where extensive stands occur...
" (Used by the gryneus race.) - California Juniper, Juniperus californicaJuniperus californicaJuniperus californica is a species of juniper native to southwestern North America; as the name implies, it is mainly found in California, although its range also extends through most of Baja California, a short distance into the Great Basin in southern Nevada, and western Arizona...
(Used by the siva and loki races.)