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Santa Barbara Field Guides – Butterflies Lepidoptera Lycaenidae Atlides halesus Great Purple Hairstreak |
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Recognition:
Upperside is dark and iridescent blue with two long tails on HW; underside is dark with gold coloring near tails; abdomen is blue above and red-orange below. Flight period: Adults are active from late March to November. Hostplants: The larvae feed on mistletoes (Phoradendron species) which grow on trees such as oaks, cottonwoods, and sycamores. Habitat: They are found around forest and desert edges and commonly streamside habitats where mistletoe hostplants are found growing on cottonwoods and sycamores. Males hilltop. Distribution: Great Purple Hairstreaks are found across the southern U.S., south to Guatemala. Other: Most specimens in collections are from pupae found at the bases of mistletoe host trees and reared in captivity. 
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