The BioFiles - Bill Hubick

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa)

Source: Wikipedia

Strymon istapa
Female, Grand Cayman
Cuba
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Strymon
Species:
S. istapa
Binomial name
Strymon istapa
(Reakirt, [1867])

Strymon istapa the mallow hairstreak, mallow-scrub hairstreak, dotted hairstreak or Hewitson's hairstreak. This diurnal butterfly is a widespread species that can be found in xeric habitats throughout the southern United States, Central America, parts of the Caribbean (including Cuba and Grand Cayman),[1] and rarely in South America.[2] This species can be spotted in rural and suburban areas in which human infringement has created open fields or tracks of overgrown weeds as a result of land clearing. These butterflies are often seen rubbing their hindwings together presumably to attract attention to their antenna mimicry scales located on the outer margin of the hindwing.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ R. R. Askew and P. A. van B. Stafford, Butterflies of the Cayman Islands (Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2008) ISBN 978-87-88757-85-9, pp. 75-76
  2. ^ Robbins, Robert (1998). "Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Strymon istapa and S. columella (Lycaenidae: Theclinae: Eumaeini)" (PDF). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 52.