Cedar Hairstreak (Callophyrs gryneus ssp. plicataria) spotted by Tanya Rankin, May 19, 2020, on Bayview Road in Whaletown.
Cedar Hairstreak is similar to Johnson’s Hairstreak but smaller.
Johnson’s Hairstreak is red-listed but it’s also rare. There is a slim chance of seeing it but it mostly occurs around old-growth stands of hemlock. It is seen every year in certain places in B.C. but the information on the species is poorly known.
In Johnson’s Hairstreak the line in the hind underwing is bold and continuous while in the Cedar the line is incomplete and paler above than below. In addition to that, Johnson’s Hairstreak is much bigger than a Cedar Hairstreak by 1 cm. That doesn’t seem like much but when it’s pertaining to butterflies, it’s significant!
Read more about Johnson’s Hairstreak and Cedar Hairstreak on South Coast Conservation Program website.
