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Juniper Hairstreak

Callophrys gryneus

The Juniper Hairstreak is a small, colorful butterfly with beautiful green and brown wings. They love to flutter around juniper trees and are often seen in sunny spots.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Juniper Hairstreak has brilliant iridescent green undersides on its wings, often adorned with a white dash, contrasting with drabber brown or orange uppersides. It features delicate, hair-like tails on its hindwings, which are distinctive.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusMitoura
Juniper Hairstreak
solitary trait badgecamouflaged trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badge
Juniper Hairstreak

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

15

Interesting facts

Despite their small size, they can fly very fast in short, darting bursts!

Juniper Hairstreaks taste nectar with their feet before sipping with a long straw-like tongue!

Some populations in the south can have several generations in a single year!

The caterpillars munch only on juniper needles, making them super picky eaters!

Special abilities

Ability

Leafy Camouflage

Juniper Hairstreak has vibrant green wings that help them blend perfectly with juniper needles, making them nearly invisible to predators.

Ability

False Antennae Trick

Juniper Hairstreak has twitching tails and eyespots on its hindwings, tricking predators into attacking the wrong end.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-30 mm
Size
15-25 mm
Lifespan
14-28 days
Flight Speed
8 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars feast exclusively on juniper leaves.

Age differences: Larvae eat juniper needles, while adults drink nectar from various flowers.

Primary Foods

  • Nectar
  • Juniperus leaves
  • Tree sap

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Butterflies are friendly and safe to watch, but don't try to catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Juniper Hairstreak?

The easiest way to identify Juniper Hairstreak is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

What is Juniper Hairstreak's wingspan?

20-30 mm

How big is Juniper Hairstreak?

15-25 mm

How long does Juniper Hairstreak live?

14-28 days

How fast can Juniper Hairstreak fly?

8 km/h

What does Juniper Hairstreak eat?

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars feast exclusively on juniper leaves.

Where is Juniper Hairstreak usually found?

Forests

How does Juniper Hairstreak hunt?

Foraging

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