Callophrys sheridanii

Appearance

This small, tail-less butterfly has a wingspan of 20–24 millimetres . The upperside is dark gray-brown, with underside colour ranging from a bright green to dark gray-green. The lower part of the forewing is gray. ''Callophrys sheridanii'' has a white postmedian line of dots that may be straight or bluged out, and even reduced or absent. It is named for its characteristic straight, white line crossing the underside of both wings, although this may be less distinct in specimens from southern British Columbia.

Naming

*''Callophrys sheridani sheridanii'', 'White-lined Sheridan's Hairstreak'
⤷ ''Callophrys sheridani comstocki'', 'Desert Sheridan's Hairstreak'
⤷ ''Callophrys sheridani lemberti'', 'Alpine Sheridan's Hairstreak'
⤷ ''Callophrys sheridani pseudodumetorum''
⤷ ''Callophrys sheridani newcomeri'', 'Whitelined Green Hairstreak'
⤷ ''Callophrys sheridani neoperplexa'', 'Sheridan's Green Hairstreak' All green hairstreaks appear very similar.

Distribution

Although uncommon in Canada, this species is found from southern Alberta east to British Columbia. From British Columbia, the range extends south through Eastern Washington down to the Sierra Nevada of California. From Alberta, the species extends southward through the Rocky Mountains down to New Mexico.

Status

Although quite rare in certain parts of its range, conservation is usually not required.

Habitat

''Callophrys sheridanii'' remains within a range of approximately 6,000–10,000 feet , living in such environments as sagebrush scrub, dry, brushy hillsides in badlands, chaparral, woodlands, subalpine scree, open hillsides, and on canyon slopes and washes.

Evolution

Females have one brood between April and May. They lay eggs singly various species of wild buckwheat leaves. The eggs are flattened and hemispherical in shape, and very pale green in colour. The larvae range from a green to pink colour and feed on buckwheat.
The caterpillars are a light green to pink colour, and are covered with bunches of short stiff pines. They have two rows of white spots running down the back. They eat the leaves, but in some prefer to eat the flowers and young fruits. Chrysalids then hibernate. In Washington State, the caterpillars feed on Sulphur Umbrella Plants . In adulthood, males perch looking for female mates in depressions or gulch bottoms. The adults drink flower nectar. They take one flight between March and June, with specimens from British Columbia flying from mid-April to late May, while specimens in Alberta flying mid-May until late June.