Southern Hairstreak, Oak Hairstreak, Northern Hairstreak

This Hairstreak is also known as the Oak Hairstreak and is listed as a 'Special Concern' butterfly in Massachusetts.

It has two tails on each hind-wing; the underside of the hind-wing is gray-brown; blue tail-spot with narrow orange caps; white-edged black W close to the inner margin. The hind-wing has longer tails and more orange and blue markings on the underside, in peninsular Florida and along the south Atlantic coast.

The eggs are laid singly on Oak twigs and hatch the following spring. The caterpillars feed on leaves, buds, and male catkins.

it has one flight from March-June.

Wing span is 7/8 - 1 1/2 inches (2.2 - 3.8 cm).

Caterpillar's eat Oaks (Quercus species).

Adults drink nectar.
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It's habitat is Oak woodlands and edges and Oak hammocks in the Deep South.

It ranges from southern New England and the Atlantic Coast south to peninsular Florida; west to central Illinois, southeastern Colorado, and the Gulf Coast.