Guide to Vineyard hairstreaks

The hairstreaks -- an informal group of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae -- rank among the most interesting and challenging butterflies to observe. They are small (about the size of a penny with their wings folded over their backs) and fly rapidly. But once seen, they are gorgeous, gem-like insects, with intricate patterns on their wings. July is peak season for hairstreaks on Martha's Vineyard. In addition to several species that are present through most of the season, several of our hairstreaks have single, summertime flights. So now is the time to seek out these beautiful butterflies. Look for them along fire lanes in Correllus State Forest, on patches of flowering milkweed, or along woodland edges.

To help you learn our hairstreaks, we've produced a simple guide to the nine species that occur during July. We hope it helps you appreciate these insects! You can access the guide here:

https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/14081

--Matt Pelikan

Posted on June 28, 2021 06:16 PM by mpelikan