Despite many of the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center staff nearing retirement, Gray Hairstreaks are not always found in the office. This Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is a small butterfly that also visits milkweeds for a sip of nectar.
In the family Lycaenidae, this species can be identified by one tail on the hindwing and an upperside that is blue-gray with a large red spot near the tail. The underside, shown here in the photo, is also gray (pale gray on the summer forms) with an orange dot showing near the tail. Wingspans are only 7/8 to 1 3/8 inches.
Nectar is sought after among many flower species such as dogbane, milkweed, mint, winter cress, goldenrod, tick trefoil, and white sweet clover. Several subspecies occur throughout the range of most of North America ... this one is probably S.m. pudica.
