Erora laeta

Early Hairstreak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Erora
Species: E. laeta
Binomial name
Erora laeta
(Edwards, 1862)
Synonyms
  • Thecla laeta Edwards, 1862
  • Thecla clothilde Edwards, 1863

The Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in eastern Canada and the US.[1][2] The habitat consists of deciduous and mixed woods.

The wingspan is 21–24 mm.[1] The upperside of the wings is blue and black. Females are more blue than males. The underside is turquoise blue, the hindwings with two irregular bands of small orange spots. Adults are on wing from April to September. There are two generations in the northern part of the range and three in the south.[3]

The larvae are associated with American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), and possibly also Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta).[1] They feed on the leaves and fruits of their host plant.

References