Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

by Lisa LeCoump
October 17, 2020April 6, 2026

Close-up of a butterfly perched on a vibrant red and yellow flower, illuminated against a dark background.

We rarely see a Gray Hairstreak Butterfly (Strymon melinus) in our area, so it was surprising when we saw this one in our garden.

Close-up of butterfly perched on colorful flower. — Grey Hairstreak butterfly

Updated:

April 6, 2026

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

They are tiny, but have a distinctive orange spot making them fairly easy to recognize. The California Native Plant Society has extensive information on their website on host plants for the Gray Hairstreak Butterfly and the Butterflies and Moths of North America website has maps and photos for identification. We have been planting the garden to attract butterflies and it seems to be paying off.

Photos by Tony Fitzgerald Photography

Professional Photographer - Food Photographer, Wedding Photographer. Lisa was previously the Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, responsible for reviewing and enforcing organic regulations and Environmental Protection Agency pesticide use regulations. She also worked for years as an Agricultural Advisor in California, a farmer in California, and an Agricultural Extension Agent in Thailand. She received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from California State University, Chico and studied Integrated Pest Management at U.C., Davis, which involved farming methods that preserve the environment.