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:
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Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
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Tick Trefoil (Desmodium spp.)
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Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.)
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Various native legumes (Fabaceae family)
🌸 Nectar Plants
Adult Gray Hairstreak butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:
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Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)
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Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)
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Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)
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Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
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Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
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Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
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Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
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Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)
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Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
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Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)
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Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)
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Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)
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New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
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Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
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Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
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Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
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Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)
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Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)