Forest Pests: Insects, Diseases & Other Damage Agents

Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)

Maier, C.T., C.R. Lemmon, J.M. Fengler, D.F. Schweitzer, and R.C. Reardon. 2004. Caterpillars on the Foliage of Conifers in the Northeastern United States. FHTET-2004-1. Morgantown, WV: USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team; 151 p.

Description. Slug-like, densely hairy, dark green body with head usually retracted into thorax and with rows of conspicuous pale bars or spots. Dark brown head. Faint, white middorsal stripe; row of white and yellow, oblique subdorsal bars (or spots) and smaller supraspiracular spots. Indistinct, broken, yellowish to greenish white spiracular stripe; slightly fragmented, yellow and white subventral stripe. Up to 15 mm.

Food. Eastern red-cedar and possibly Atlantic white-cedar.

Life Cycle. Two generations (second one is partial). Pupa overwinters in soil or debris. Mature caterpillar present from May to September.

Comments. The caterpillars of this species and Hessel's hairstreak, Callophrys hesseli, are very similar in appearance and well camouflaged on the foliage of their food plants. In New England, the two caterpillars can be separated by their food plant. In southern New Jersey, adults of the juniper hairstreak sometimes lay eggs on Atlantic white-cedar, suggesting this plant may be eaten in southern areas of the Northeast. The juniper hairstreak formerly was known as Mitoura gryneus.

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