Map Snapshot
176 Records
Status
The White-M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album), with its relatively large size, and its seldom seen, brilliant blue upperside, is an interesting and unusual representative of the Maryland Lycaenidae. The genus Parrhasius is actually largely tropical in distribution. This species, which has been expanding northward in recent years (Glassberg 1999), occurs statewide. This butterfly flies from late April, and again in August to September (two or three broods) (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith).
Description
The White-M Hairstreak is named for the prominent white 'M' marking on the hindwing. There is also a small reddish spot adjacent to the M, and a diagnostic isolated white spot near the leading edge of the hindwing. The uppersides of the wings, normally visible only in flight, or when it briefly opens them while basking, are a vivid, brilliant blue (Brock & Kaufman, 2003).
Where To Find
Edges and openings in oak forests. Often seen nectaring at flowers along roadsides through forest.
Relationships
White-M Hairstreak uses various oaks (Quercus) as larval hosts. In West Virginia, it frequently uses White Oak (Quercus alba) (Allen 1997).
Seasonality Snapshot
Source: Wikipedia
| Parrhasius m-album | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Parrhasius |
| Species: | P. m-album
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| Binomial name | |
| Parrhasius m-album | |
Parrhasius m-album, or the white M hairstreak, is a species of butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the United States from western Connecticut to southeast Iowa, southern Missouri to east Texas, the Gulf Coast, and peninsular Florida. On rare occasions some stray to Michigan and Wisconsin.[2]
The wingspan of Parrhasius m-album is 32–41 mm.
The larvae feed on Quercus virginiana and other Quercus species.
References
[edit]- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Parrhasius m-album White-m Hairstreak". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
- ^ Opler, Paul A.; Harry Pavulaan; Ray E. Stanford; Michael Pogue; coordinators (2006). "Parrhasius m-album". Big Sky Institute. Retrieved 2009-03-09.