Page 150 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Lycaenidae
DIS
TRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION North America

HABIT
HABITAT T Bluffs, open fields, forest edges, and dry, rocky open places
HABITAT
A
HOS
HOST PLANTS
HOST PLANTS S Juniper (Juniperus spp.) and cedar (Thuja spp., Cupressus spp.)
T PLANT
NOTE
NOTE Green caterpillar that turns pink just before pupation
TE
NO
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but at least one subspecies is thought vulnerable
CONSERV
CONSERVATION STATUS
T
TION S
A
TUS
A
ADULT WINGSPAN
1–1³∕₁₆ in (25–30 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
⁹∕₁₆ in (15 mm)
CALLOPHRYS GRYNEUS
JUNIPER HAIRSTREAK
148
(HÜBNER, [1819])
Juniper Hairstreak caterpillars are well adapted to feeding
on junipers and cedars and do so throughout the United States.
The superb camouflage of this caterpillar blends in particularly

well with its host plants, and is clearly the basis of its survival
strategy. Development from egg hatch to pupation takes 30 to
50 days depending on temperature. The caterpillars feed entirely
on juniper needles, excavating holes on the upper surfaces in
early instars, then consuming the needles when more mature.
The larvae are solitary, and cannibalism can occur in captivity.

A great deal of comparative work has been done on the adults
of Callophrys gryneus and on analysis of blend zones where
subspecies meet. Nevertheless, dialogue continues as to whether
this is truly a single species. Much less attention has been given to
the comparative biology of the immature stages. The caterpillars
usually change color to fuchsia pink and wander just prior to

The Juniper Hairstreak caterpillar is bright, pupation. Overwintering occurs as a pupa.
shiny, dark forest green punctuated by bold,
highly contrasting, white markings, thickly
covered with short, blond setae. There is a
ventrolateral line of bold, white bars, one per
segment, each bar enlarged anteriorly. A second
bold, white marking occurs dorsolaterally on
each segment, and the head is green.

Actual size