Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Lycaenidae) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Gossamer-winged butterflies are a family of mostly small butterflies found in sunny gardens, meadows, and woodland edges across the United States. The family includes blues, coppers, hairstreaks, and harvesters. Many caterpillars give ants sweet liquid in exchange for protection, while Harvester caterpillars eat woolly aphids rather than plants.

In this group

Eastern Tailed-BlueCupido comyntas

Common in open areas across much of the eastern United States, it has tiny hindwing tails and orange spots near them.

Spring AzureCelastrina ladon

An early-season blue of the eastern United States, it is pale blue above and lightly spotted gray below.

Gray HairstreakStrymon melinus

This widespread hairstreak has a gray underside, orange-and-black false-head marks, and one slender tail on each hindwing.

American CopperLycaena phlaeas

Look for bright copper-orange forewings with dark spots in open, disturbed ground, especially in the Northeast and other northern areas.

HarvesterFeniseca tarquinius

North America's unusual predatory butterfly is orange and brown, and its caterpillars live where woolly aphids occur.

Juniper HairstreakCallophrys gryneus

Green scaling below helps this hairstreak blend into junipers and red cedars in much of the United States.

Sylvan HairstreakSatyrium sylvinus

Look near willow thickets and streams in western states. Its pale gray underside has a small orange spot; the hindwing tails may be absent.

Appearance

Appearance: The upper and lower wing patterns can look very different. Photographs of both surfaces are often more useful than color alone.
How to recognize it: Most are small, slim butterflies with delicate spots or lines on the wing undersides. Blue is common but not universal; the family also includes orange coppers, brown hairstreaks, and species with threadlike tails.

Look-alikes

SkippersHesperiidae

Skippers usually have stockier bodies and antenna clubs that bend into small hooks. Gossamer-wings are generally slimmer and have rounded antenna clubs.

Why they get mixed upBoth groups include small, fast daytime visitors to flowers.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: flower gardens
meadows and roadsides
woodland edges
Range: The family occurs worldwide, with many species across the United States. Each species has its own range, from widespread Eastern Tailed-Blues to western Boisduval's Blues and southern hairstreaks.
Preferred conditions: Adults are often easiest to see in sunny, flower-rich openings or at damp soil. Forest-associated hairstreaks may spend much of their time higher in trees.

Behavior

Diet: Most adults sip flower nectar, while caterpillars usually eat particular plants. Harvester caterpillars are an exception and prey on woolly aphids.
Activity: Adults visit flowers for nectar, and many gather at damp ground for water and dissolved minerals. Some fly close to low plants, while tree-feeding hairstreaks may stay in the canopy.
Overwintering: The overwintering stage varies by species; eggs, caterpillars, or can carry different members through winter.

Life cycle

Larva: The caterpillars are usually short and slug-shaped. Many species offer sugary secretions to ants in exchange for protection, but not every member of the family depends on ants.
Caterpillar food plants: Most caterpillars eat particular , often feeding on tender leaves, buds, flowers, or fruit. The plant beside a butterfly can therefore be an important identification clue.

Name and classification

Group name: Gossamer-winged butterflies is a common U.S. name for Lycaenidae.

Conservation

Conservation: In the United States, the Karner Blue is federally endangered.