Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Hessel`s Hairstreak,
Callophrys hesseli

Size: Wingspan is 7/8 to 1 inch.

Similar Species:
Juniper Hairstreak

Habitat: Can be found near Atlantic White-cedar, (Chamaecyparis thyoides) along swamps, bays and pocosins.

Abundance: Rare to uncommon.

Flight Period: Two broods starting in early April until late May and late June until mid August.

Comments: This Hessel`s Hairstreak was found on April 1, 2000 by Jeff Pippen at Jones Lake State Park in Bladen County. Your best bet to find a hessel`s is to look before 9 am or after 4 pm. This one was found at 5:30 pm.

It`s nectaring on Highbush Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum. Notice on the bottom photo holes in the sides of the blossoms, these were made by bees and the smaller butterflies like hairstreaks and elfins can nectar easily in them. The top photo you can see a large slit the hessels is nectaring in, also made by bees.

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