http://10.70.15.71/taxonomy/term/38/0 en http://10.70.15.71/butterfly/Strymon/melinus <p>Most common in <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/3#term182"><acronym title="A general term for organisms that are typically associated with habitats that are disturbed by human activities or are dominated by non-native, invasive plants.">weedy</acronym></a> and disturbed habitats at low elevation, but capable of turning up at any of our sites (least likely: Castle Peak). The Gray Hairstreak is <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/3#term178"><acronym title="The “defense” or regular patrolling behavior of some organisms (including apparently some butterfly species) of certain location. Territoriality in butterflies appears to be “epigamic” in function; females come to the sites where males are. It often occurs only at specific kinds of sites and times of the day, especially in the late afternoon and near dusk. These can range from the size of a small bush in the sunlight in an otherwise dark forest, or an entire stream system. Most territorial behavior in butterflies is done by males, who will chase at almost anything that flies by (including potential enemies like birds and butterfly scientists!). ">territorial</acronym></a> and a hilltopper in suitable terrain, but does very well in towns and cities in the Central Valley. It is multiple-brooded and has a very long flight season, at sea level from February to November, but rarely seen before June in the mountains where it does not appear able to overwinter. It does not show up every year at higher elevations. Early spring specimens are small and very dark with reduced red markings; "albinos," with the red replaced by pale yellow, occur mostly in the spring brood. There is much minor variation. Adults visit an immense variety of flowers, both wild and cultivated. They are particularly addicted to <i>Heliotrope</i> and white-flowered Apiaceae.</p> <p>This is one of the most polyphagous butterflies known, recorded on host plants in many <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/3#term114"><acronym title="The nested rank between order and genus in the Linnaean system. Six butterfly families are present in western North America: Hesperiidae (skippers), Papilionidae (swallowtails and parnassians), Pieridae (whites and sulfurs), Lycaenidae (coppers, hairstreaks, and blues; a.k.a. the gossamer-wings), Riodinidae (metalmarks; placed within Lycaenidae by some authors), and Nymphalidae (brushfoots, including fritillaries, checkerspots, crescents, admirals, satyrs, and monarchs). ">families</acronym></a>. Its most frequent hosts in our area are mallows, including the weedy <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/3#term169"><acronym title="The primary unit of classification below genus under the Linnaean system. For our purposes, groups of interbreeding or potentially interbreeding populations of individuals that share an evolutionary history and ancestry. However, there is significant debate on what exactly constitutes a species and many definitions and concepts have been proposed. The most common of these is the biological species concept, which requires that sets of populations must be able to successfully and regularly interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring.">species</acronym></a> of <i>Malva</i>; legumes, including Spanish Lotus (<i>Lotus purshianus</i>), Bird's-Foot Trefoil (<i>Lotus corniculatus</i>), White Clover (<i>Trifolium repens</i>) in lawns, Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) and many others;and Turkey Mullein (<i>Eremocarpus</i> or <i>Croton setigerus</i>, Euphorbiaceae).</p> Strymon Sun, 28 May 2006 18:07:24 +0000 admin 166 at http://10.70.15.71