The gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is also called the bean lycaenid or cotton square borer. It is a member of the Lycaenidae family, known as the gossamer-winged butterflies and the second-largest family of butterflies. It is one of the most common hairstreaks in North America, ranging over nearly the entire continent. It also occurs throughout Central America and in northern South America.

The adult gray hairstreak has a wingspan of 20 –. The upper sides of the wings are gray with an orange spot on the hind margin. The underside of the wings are a lighter gray with white and black lines and orange and blue marginal spots near the hind-wings' tail-like extensions.
 Caterpillars are green with markings on the sides, covered in short yellow hairs.

General Description

The caterpillars of the gray hairstreak butterfly consume a wide range of food plants. However, they do mainly use mallows and legumes as their preferred host plant. They commonly use clovers as their food plant as well, eating rabbit-foot clover (Trifolium arvense), white clover (T. repens), bush clover (Lespedeza capitata), white sweet-clover (Melilotis alba), and Malva neglecta. Young caterpillars are typically found eating flowers and fruiting bodies of their host plant while the older caterpillars eat the leaves.

Food

Strymon melinus, commonly known as the Gray Hairstreak butterfly, can be considered a garden pest because its larvae feed on the leaves of various garden plants, potentially causing damage to their foliage and affecting their overall health.

garden pest

Strymon melinus can be considered a crop pest because its larvae have been observed feeding on the leaves of certain crop plants, which can lead to reduced crop yield and quality if infestations are severe.

crop pest

Strymon melinus can be considered pests because their larvae feed on the leaves of garden plants and certain crop plants, potentially causing damage to foliage and reducing crop yield and quality.

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How big does a gray hairstreak get?

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