The Gray Hairstreak is one of the most widespread butterflies in North America, found in a variety of open habitats. It is light gray with thin black and white lines crossing both wings. The hindwings feature a black spot capped with orange and a touch of blue scaling just above the tails. The upperside is gray in males and blue-gray in females, both showing the distinctive orange-capped black spot near the tail. The top of the head and the tips of the antennae are also orange. Males have an orange abdomen, while females have a blue-gray one. Females are generally larger than males.

 

Gray Hairstreak” by Renee Grayson, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Gray Hairstreak Facts

Butterfly Family: Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Theclinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 7/8 – 1 3/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Open, non-forested sites; common in disturbed and weedy areas

 

🪴Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

  • Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

  • Tick Trefoil (Desmodium spp.)

  • Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.)

  • Various native legumes (Fabaceae family)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Gray Hairstreak butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

  • Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

  • Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)

  • Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

  • Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

  • Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

  • Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

  • Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

  • Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

  • Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

  • Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

  • Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

  • Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

  • New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

  • Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

  • Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)

  • Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

  • Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)