Erora laeta
Size:
Wingspan is 3/4 - 1 inch.
Similar Species:
None in the region.
Habitat:
High elevation mixed hardwood habitats, clearings, trails, roadsides,
ridge tops. It lives in the tops of trees and occasionally it nectars
on flowers near slopes.
Range/Abundance:
Extremely rare due
to the fact it seems to stay in the tops of trees and is hard to find
near the ground. Found in the mountains only in the region.
Flight Period:
Adults fly in two broods: the first from mid April until late May and
the second brood from late June until mid August.
Larval Host Plants:
American Beech Fagus grandifolia and Beaked Hazelnut Corylus
cornuta.
Comments:
This tiny hairstreak is the hardest to find hairstreak in the region as
its preferred habitat is in the tops of trees. I found this one on White
Sweet Clover Melilotus alba along a roadside over a very steep
slope. The slope was defoliated by Gypsy Moths and likely the defoliation
helped in finding this rare hairstreak.
The top and second photos were taken in Rockbridge Co., VA on June 24, 2001. The bottom photo was taken by Will Cook in Mitchell Co., NC on July 06, 2002.
