Butterflies are rapidly declining in North America, so I’m photographing and sharing them often. Today, I’m sharing Gray Hairstreak photos.
Upright Prairie Coneflower and a Gray Hairstreak butterfly
I took these photos last spring at Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Wildflowers bloomed in wonderful, wild abandon, drawing countless insects, including Gray Hairstreak butterflies.
Other insects enjoying the wildflowers included beetles, bees, wasps, moths, ants, and even plenty of spiders.
Gray Hairstreak butterfly on a wildflower
Hairstreak butterflies are generally small which can make them hard to spot and photograph. With patience and skills it can be fun because photographing them is a challenge.
Spring Gray Hairstreak butterfly on a Upright Prairie Coneflower
Gray Hairstreak butterflies primarily feed on nectar from flowers, but their caterpillars feed on a variety of plants. Here are some of the types of plants that Gray Hairstreak caterpillars and adults interact with:
Gray Hairstreak Caterpillar Host Plants:
- Legumes: These include clovers (e.g., white clover, red clover), beans (e.g., bush beans, pole beans), and peas.
- Mallows: This family includes plants like cotton, hollyhock, and okra.
- Other hosts: They may also feed on flowers, fruits, and seeds of various other plants, including those in the families of mints and dogbanes.
Gray Hairstreak Adult Nectar Sources:
- Milkweed: Known for its role in supporting monarch butterflies, milkweed also provides nectar for Gray Hairstreaks.
- Dogbane: A common nectar source for many butterflies.
- Mint: Various species of mint flowers are attractive to Gray Hairstreaks.
- Other small-flowered plants: They visit a wide range of small flowers for nectar, including those in gardens and wildflowers.
These plants are important for supporting the lifecycle of Gray Hairstreak butterflies, providing both food for the caterpillars and nectar for the adults.
Gray Hairstreak butterfly nectaring on an Upright Prairie Coneflower
Planting native trees, wildflowers, shrubs, and vines helps butterflies and insects immensely. Even a few of these in a single yard can make a difference. Together, we can make a huge impact!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Gray Hairstreak butterfly photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos.
What a wonderful series of butterfly pics! The color and detail literally explode out of every shot. Your narrative is both enlightening and worrisome. All of nature seems to be losing the battle to survive. Thanks Mia.
I adore butterflies (and moths) and mourn their decline.