Hairstreak butterfly – Colorado state insect
The state insect of Colorado is hairstreak butterfly. It is native to Colorado, and it is also the only butterfly that lives in the Rocky Mountains. The hairstreak butterfly has a wingspan of about two inches, and it is mostly brown with blue and white markings on the wings.
The hairstreak butterfly is easy to find because it likes to live in open areas where there are grasses, wildflowers and shrubs. The butterflies spend their winters as caterpillars, which live under rocks or other objects on the ground. The caterpillars feed on plants such as oak trees, milkweeds and thistles.
Scientific Classification of Hairstreak Butterfly
Scientific Name: Theclinae
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Strymon
Physical Description
The hairstreak butterfly is a group of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. They are named for the hairstreak, a primarily European butterfly of the genus Thecla. They are small, usually less than 2 inches (5 cm) in wingspan, and have short antennae with a club at the end.
Most species are metallic blue or green on top, with silvery white undersides, although some species have gray or brown tops instead of blue. Many also have dark eyespots near their tails that mimic ants to deter predators from eating them.
Facts about Hairstreak Butterfly
- It is the famous and official insect in Colorado
- It can fly up to 45 miles per hour
- The hairstreak butterfly can change its colour in order to hide in plain sight
- Females lay around 100 eggs on or near host plants -It’s only 2.5 centimeters longThey live only two weeks
- There are some 375,000 species of butterflies in the world
- The hairstreak can be found in wooded areas and along streams and rivers throughout the United States and Canada.
- Their caterpillars inhabit acorns, leaves, and flowers
Why is Hairstreak Butterfly the state insect of Colorado?
Hairstreaks are native to Colorado, and the state has a rich history of butterfly-related events. The first annual Butterfly Festival was held in 1899 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds. In 2000, Hairstreak was designated as the official state insect because it is unique to Colorado and is considered a symbol of beauty.