Gray Hairstreak vs Blood-red Cymothoe
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Gray Hairstreak | Blood-red Cymothoe |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Strymon melinus | Cymothoe sangaris |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lycaenidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 22-35 mm wingspan | 55-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Forests |
| Diet | Fruit Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Throughout the United States, southern Canada, and into Central America | Central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DRC) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Gray Hairstreak
One of the most widespread hairstreaks in North America with slate-gray wings and a bright orange spot near its tail. It uses a remarkably wide range of host plants.
Did You Know?
Its caterpillars feed on plants from over 20 different families, making it one of the most generalist butterfly larvae in North America.
Blood-red Cymothoe
A strikingly sexually dimorphic butterfly where males are vivid blood-red and females are brown with white bands. It is one of the most recognizable butterflies in Central African forests. Flight is relatively slow and gliding.
Did You Know?
The blood-red coloration of males is so vivid that early European explorers initially mistook them for a different species from the brown females.