Insect
Colorado Hairstreak
Hypaurotis crysalusAlso known as Crysalus Hairstreak
Colorado hairstreaks flutter among the canopy of Gambel oak thickets, where their shimmering purple and orange-bordered wings catch beams of high-altitude sunlight. Adults feed primarily on sap flows, honeydew secreted by aphids, and moisture from damp ground rather than flower nectar. Females deposit eggs individually on twig joints, allowing overwintering eggs to hatch alongside emerging oak leaves each spring.
ColorfulMontaneButterflies
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGambel oak leaves, Tree sap, Aphid honeydew
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Preying mantises
ThreatsWildfire, habitat destruction, and pesticide spraying
HabitatsGambel oak thickets, montane scrubland, canyons
Life span1 year (egg to adult)
Classification
- FamilyLycaenidae
- SpeciesHypaurotis crysalus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Location: Look high in Gambel oak canopies in late afternoon.
- Patience: Watch for flashes of purple as males defend perches.
- Etiquette: Avoid shaking lower oak branches where females lay eggs.
Host Plant (c) Lyrae, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Lyrae · cc-by
Close Relative (c) John Rosford, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative Megan McCarty / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
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