Atlides halesus
Size:
Wingspan is 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches.
Similar Species:
None in the region.
Habitat:
Moist hardwood forests, bottomlands and swamps. Look for it on taller
wild flowers along edges of forests, bottomlands and swamps.
Range/Abundance:
Uncommon in the coastal plain and piedmont. Rare in the mountains and
VA and WV.
Flight Period:
Adults fly from late March until mid October in three broods with gaps
between broods.
Larval Host Plants:
Mistletoe Phoradendron serotinum
Comments:
This is a very large hairstreak, look for it
along swamp forest edges on very tall nectar sources like Joe-pye-weed
Eupatorium fistulosum and Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia.
Good places to look for this hairstreak are The Great Dismal Swamp (NC & VA), Alligator National Wildlife Refuge, Croatan National Forest and Francis Marion National Forest.
The top photo was taken in Orange Co., NC on August 6,
2002. The second photo was taken in Dare Co., NC on September 14, 2002.
The second rollover image and bottom photo were taken in Columbus Co.,
NC on October 27, 2002.
