Sheridan's Hairstreak

Callophrys sheridanii is resident to the northwestern United states, into southern British Columbia and east to Utah, and to several small isolated populations south and east (Scott 1986). Habitats are transition to Canadian zone woodland, sagebrush and chaparral, Hudsonian to alpine zone rock garden, open woodland and scrub, upper Sonoran zone desert canyons. Host plants are mostly herbaceous with hosts restricted to family Polygonaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Individuals overwinter as pupae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time depending on location, late Mar-May15 from lowland Colo. to Wash., June15-July31 at high altitude, Mar1-April 31 in deserts west of Utah, Apr 15- May15 in deserts further west (Scott 1986).

Rare; provincial rank S1 and "Status Undetermined" because of few records.

Adults fly from May to June (Bird et al., 1995).

In Canada, it is found from Southern British Columbia east to Alberta (Layberry et al., 1998). Its range extends south through eastern Washington to the Sierra Nevada of California and southeast along Rocky Mountains to New Mexico (Opler et al., 1995).

"The wingspan of this small hairstreak is between 22-29 mm. Dorsal wing colour is dark grey-brown. The bright green to dark grey-green ventral wing colour distinguishes this butterfly from others in Alberta. There is a postmedian line of white dots may be straight or bulged out, reduced, or lacking. Eggs are not described. Larvae are green to pink (Opler & Wright, 1999). Pupae are not described."

In Alberta, found in dry grassy slopes of the foothills and Rocky Mountains (Bird et al., 1995).

Unknown in Alberta. Pupae overwinter in Washington and they make creaking sounds when disturbed (Hiruma et al., 1997). Males perch to watch for females in depressions or gulch bottoms (Opler et al., 1995). Females lay eggs singly on host plant (Eriogonum) leaves (Opler et al., 1995; Hiruma et al., 1997). Larvae eat leaves, although some prefer flowers and young fruits (Opler et al., 1995; Guppy & Shepard, 2001).

Unknown for Alberta, but larvae feed on various species of wild buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.) in Colorado and Washington (Warren & Robbins, 1993; Opler et al., 1995; Hiruma et al., 1997). Adults feed on flower nectar (Opler et al., 1995). Acorn (1993) states that C. sheridanii larvae feed on bearberry (Arctostaphylus uva-ursi), blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) and laurel.