Status: rare resident
Flights: 1+?, Mar-Sep?
Distribution/known sites in Monterey County: inner coast range (Gabilans): Chalone Pks., Parkfield area; upper Pine Cyn. Rd.
Habitats: coniferous forest openings, foothills and mountains
Host plants: dwarf mistletoe on conifers
Adult food: male mud-puddles, both sexes nectar at buckwheats & composites
Conservation: none needed
Remarks:
• often sits on warm pavement
• males spend much time in crowns of conifers
• male steel-blue above with wide, dark margins; female wider margins, restricted blue esp. FW
Thicket hairstreak Callophrys spinetorum
Life history facts
egg: laid singly on mistletoe
larva: feeds on all parts of mistletoe
pupa: hibernates in mistletoe mass
adult: males seek females on hilltop trees
dirt road in parkfield area mudding