The bean lycaenid and cotton square borer are other names for the gray hairstreak, or Strymon melinus. It belongs to the second-largest family of butterflies, the Lycaenidae, also known as the gossamer-winged butterflies.
Amazing Facts
- The caterpillars are regarded as pests in some areas of their habitat since they frequently inflict monetary harm to crops like cotton, beans, etc.
- Gray Hair Streaks are expert habitat generalists and only need vegetation and sunlight to survive.
Appearance
The wingspan of an adult gray hairstreak is between 20 and 32 millimeters (0.79–1.26 in). With an orange patch on the back border, the upper sides of the wings are gray. The underside of the wings is a lighter gray with white and black lines and marginal specks of orange and blue close to the tail-like extensions of the hind wings.
Caterpillars are green with yellow small hairs covering them and patterns on the sides.
Diet
The gray hairstreak butterfly’s caterpillars eat a variety of food plants. However, their preferred host plants tend to be mallows and legumes. Additionally, they frequently consume clovers as their primary source of nutrition, including Malva neglecta, bush clover (Lespedeza capitata), white sweet clover (Melilotis alba), and rabbit-foot clover (Trifolium arvense). Young caterpillars normally consume the host plant’s flowers and fruiting bodies, while the leaves are consumed by adult caterpillars.
Predator
A wide range of predators could consume them.
Habitat
Given that it covers almost the whole continent, it is one of the most widespread hairs treaks in North America. Additionally, it can be found throughout northern South America and all of Central America. The gray hairstreak inhabits a variety of environments, including agriculture, cities, tropical woods, and mountains as well as temperate woodlands and meadows.
Why not keep it as a pet?
Strymon melinus, a gray hairstreak, is typically not recommended as a pet due to their short lifetime and enjoyment of living in the wild.
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