Strymon istapa
| Strymon istapa | |
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| Female, Grand Cayman | |
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| Cuba | |
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| Species: | S. istapa
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| Binomial name | |
| Strymon istapa (Reakirt, [1867])
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Strymon istapa the mallow hairstreak, mallow-scrub hairstreak, dotted hairstreak or Hewitson's hairstreak. This diurnal butterfly is a widespread species that can be found in xeric habitats throughout the southern United States, Central America, parts of the Caribbean (including Cuba and Grand Cayman),[1] and rarely in South America.[2] This species can be spotted in rural and suburban areas in which human infringement has created open fields or tracks of overgrown weeds as a result of land clearing. These butterflies are often seen rubbing their hindwings together presumably to attract attention to their antenna mimicry scales located on the outer margin of the hindwing.[citation needed]
References
- ^ R. R. Askew and P. A. van B. Stafford, Butterflies of the Cayman Islands (Apollo Books, Stenstrup 2008) ISBN 978-87-88757-85-9, pp. 75-76
- ^ Robbins, Robert (1998). "Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Strymon istapa and S. columella (Lycaenidae: Theclinae: Eumaeini)" (PDF). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 52.