Sheridan's Hairstreak
Callophrys sheridanii (W.H. Edwards, 1877)

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Diagnosis: This is a small (wingspan: 20 to 24 mm) hairstreak with a bright green underside and no tails. Its characteristic marking is the relatively straight white line that crosses the underside of both wings. In southern British Columbia, this line is variable and less distinct than in specimens from farther south and east in the range. The upperside is grey.

Subspecies: There are two subspecies in Canada. Subspecies newcomeri occurs in southern British Columbia, and subspecies neoperplexa occurs in southwestern Alberta.

Range: This is a species of mountains and the Great Basin in the western U.S. Canadian populations are in southern British Columbia and in extreme southwestern Alberta.

Similar Species: Other untailed green Callophrys, but only the Western Green Hairstreak (C. affinis) is known to occur in Canada. [compare images]

Early Stages: The larva is green to pink in colour and feeds on buckwheat (Eriogonum spp., Polygonaceae). In Washington State it feeds on the Sulphur Umbrella Plant (Eriogonum umbellatum).

Sheridan's Hairstreak (Callophrys sheridanii neoperplexa). Beaver Mines Lake, Alta. G.J. Hilchie

Abundance: This species is local and uncommon in Canada.

Flight Season: It flies from mid-April until late May in British Columbia and from mid-May until late June in Alberta.

Habits: This is a butterfly of sagebrush habitats on hillsides and in canyons.

© 2002. This material is reproduced with permission from The Butterflies of Canada by Ross A. Layberry, Peter W. Hall, and J. Donald Lafontaine. University of Toronto Press; 1998. Specimen photos courtesy of John T. Fowler.

The Toronto Entomologists' Association thanks Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for providing the content and computer code for this web page.