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Callophrys nelsoni Scudder, 1872
Cedar Hairstreak; Cypress Hairstreaks
Family: Lycaenidae (Gossamer Wings)
Species account authors: Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard.
Extracted from Butterflies of British Columbia.
Introduction to the Lepidoptera of BC
Introduction to the Butterflies of BC
The Families of Lepidoptera of BC

Photograph

© Norbert Kondla     (Photo ID #5214)

Map

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Distribution of Callophrys nelsoni in British Columbia.
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Source: Butterflies of British Columbia by Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard © Royal BC Museum

Species Information


Adult

The Cedar Hairstreak and the Juniper Hairstreak are two very closely related species that some recent authorities have combined into one species. Because these were combined with no discussion of the distinguishing characters pointed out by Johnson (1976), and because in the interior the two choose different native hosts and have consistently different wing colour patterns, we separate them. Only protein or DNA analysis is likely to give a better definition of species in this difficult genus.

These two species are similar in appearance to the two Loranthomitoura species discussed previously, but are smaller. The ventral wing pattern is similar to that of Loranthomitoura but appears washed out. The upperside of the male wings has a dark brown ground colour with submarginal tawny areas. The upperside of the female wings has a tawny ground colour with wide black borders. The Cedar Hairstreak ventral hindwing has less contrast between basal and apical areas than that of the Juniper Hairstreak.

Immature Stages

Mature larvae are green with a broad diagonal white stripe on the side of each segment.

Subspecies

Populations west of the Cascade and Coast ranges are M.r. plicataria Johnson, 1976 (TL: Cameron Lake, BC). The nominate subspecies, M.r. rosneri (TL: 2 miles south of Kaslo, BC) (= byrnei Johnson, 1976; TL: 5.6 mi. 5. Emida, Benewah Co., ID), is found in the interior. The two subspecies range south to central OR and northern ID, respectively.

Genus Description


The name Mitoura is derived from the Latin mitos (thread) and oura (tail); hence it refers to the threadlike tails. The common name for the genus is used here for the first time.

Adults of BC species in this genus are similar to Loranthomitoura but lack the strong, white median line on the ventral hindwing. Larvae of this genus feed on trees or shrubs related to western red cedar and juniper (Cupressaceae). For this reason adults are seen only when they are nectaring on flowers of perennial or annual plants at ground level or on low shrubs. They are not seen flying in open meadows. The genus is Nearctic, with two to nine species, depending on which authority one follows.

Biology


Adults of the Cedar Hairstreak fly from late April to early June on the coast and mid-May to late June in the interior. Lab-reared individuals emerge as early as February (FIS), which shows that emergence is temperature-dependent. On Vancouver Island, the Cedar Hairstreak can be seen nectaring on English daisies, oxeye daisies, and native composites. Eggs hatch shortly after being laid and quickly complete development. By midsummer the mature larva has pupated. The butterfly overwinters as a pupa. Western red cedar is the main native foodplant (Guppy 1954; Johnson 1976; FlS), and CSG has reared both mainland and Vancouver Island populations on both western red cedar and Rocky Mountain juniper. Shepard has noted oviposition on horticultural juniper shrubs at Nelson.

Habitat


The Cedar Hairstreak is found across southern BC from Vancouver Island to the West Kootenay wherever western red cedar is found. It should also occur on the north coast and the southern Alaska panhandle, but has not been recorded there.

Distribution

Distribution

The Cedar Hairstreak is found from southern BC south to OR, the ID panhandle, and northwest MT, wherever western red cedar is found.

Status Information

Scientific NameOrigin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
Callophrys gryneus rosneriNativeS4YellowNot Listed
Callophrys nelsoniNativeS5YellowNot Listed



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