vayda on Nostr: 🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨 The Colorado Hairstreak is a montane butterfly, ...
🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨
The Colorado Hairstreak is a montane butterfly, typically found in hills and canyons between 6500 and 9000 feet. They are recognized by their distinctive iridescent purple, blue, and black coloration when their wings are opened and the orange spots on their ventral side when their wings are closed. They have a small tail on their lower wings common to hairstreak, or Theclinae, butterflies and have a wingspan of less than an inch and a half at their largest.
Male Colorado hairstreaks are very territorial and will defend their oaks from other butterflies of the same species. The adults can be found in the greatest numbers between July and August, and the butterflies only have one generation per year. Unlike the migratory monarchs and painted ladies, Colorado Hairstreaks tend to live within a few yards of their hatching place for their entire lives. Even when startled, Colorado Hairstreaks tend to fly back into their home oak groves. Males are territorial and will chase each other as they patrol, flying in the canopy of the oaks looking for females. The males locate the females by their distinct purple coloration, though pheromones are also likely important for locating mates.
The Colorado hairstreak is completely dependent on the Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii) throughout its life. The adults lay their eggs on oak twigs, and the eggs remain there throughout the winter until they hatch in the late spring. The caterpillars will then eat the young leaves of the oak until they pupate. Once the adult emerges, the butterfly does not consume nectar from flowers but subsists entirely on sap and sugary secretions from oak galls.
The Colorado Hairstreak is a montane butterfly, typically found in hills and canyons between 6500 and 9000 feet. They are recognized by their distinctive iridescent purple, blue, and black coloration when their wings are opened and the orange spots on their ventral side when their wings are closed. They have a small tail on their lower wings common to hairstreak, or Theclinae, butterflies and have a wingspan of less than an inch and a half at their largest.
Male Colorado hairstreaks are very territorial and will defend their oaks from other butterflies of the same species. The adults can be found in the greatest numbers between July and August, and the butterflies only have one generation per year. Unlike the migratory monarchs and painted ladies, Colorado Hairstreaks tend to live within a few yards of their hatching place for their entire lives. Even when startled, Colorado Hairstreaks tend to fly back into their home oak groves. Males are territorial and will chase each other as they patrol, flying in the canopy of the oaks looking for females. The males locate the females by their distinct purple coloration, though pheromones are also likely important for locating mates.
The Colorado hairstreak is completely dependent on the Gambel Oak (Quercus gambelii) throughout its life. The adults lay their eggs on oak twigs, and the eggs remain there throughout the winter until they hatch in the late spring. The caterpillars will then eat the young leaves of the oak until they pupate. Once the adult emerges, the butterfly does not consume nectar from flowers but subsists entirely on sap and sugary secretions from oak galls.