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White M Hairstreak Butterfly
Parrhasius m-album
{Species
Archive Index}
photo ©Ginger Allen, FMNP
Identifiers- Upperside iridescent blue with black borders,
1 1/4 - 1 5/8 inches
Underside grayish brown; white postmedian line edged with black and forming
a white M near tail
Adaptations-
Gossamer-wing butterfly. Tails and red eye spot trick predators into
attacking the less vulnerable "rear-end" of the butterfly
Status-
common in north central and south Florida. Absent from most of the panhandle
except Escambia county. Absent from Monroe county and absent from counties
adjacent to the west coast of Lake Okeechobee.
Distribution-
Connecticut west to southeast Iowa and Missouri, south to east Texas, the
Gulf Coast, and peninsular Florida.
Rare in Michigan and Wisconsin
Habitat- broadleaf woods,
oak hammocks
Reproduction- single eggs, 3 broods in the north, 4 in Florida, from
February-October
Host plants- Live oak (Quercus virginiana) and other oak species
Nectar plants- variety of flowers including viburnum, sumac, sourwood,
wild plum, sweet pepperbush, common milkweed, lantana, dogwood, bushy aster
and goldenrod
Fun facts
- Females are duller in color and have less blue coloring
- blue flash seen from the upper side of wings when flying
- sit with wings closed
{Species
Archive Index} |
