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Telea Hairstreak

(Chlorostrymon telea)

 

 

Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea [Hewitson])

Wing span: 5/8 - 7/8 inch (1.6 - 2.2 cm).

Identification: Upperside of male iridescent purple-blue; female dull gray-blue. Underside postmedian line is white, forming a W near the inner margin.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: One flight in South Texas in June; January-July in Central America.

Caterpillar hosts: Flowers of Guazuma (Costa Rica) and Central American soapberry (Peru).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Stream valleys of semideciduous dry forests.

Range: Southern Brazil north to Mexico. Rare stray to South Texas.

 

Telea Hairstreak (Chlorostrymon telea)