Pretty Hairstreak From South Texas

[mercuryvapor]

I took the family to Hidalgo County, Texas for a week in late February. The idea was to escape winter in Colorado. It was a resounding success with temperatures hitting 90 and lots of butterflies on the wing.

I've been able to identify all of our catches except this little gem of a hairstreak. The wingspan is 0.9". Can any of you tell me what it is?

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[dertodesking]

Hi,

I'm afraid that I've got no idea what this is...but if I were you I'd invest in a couple of packets of special entomology pins. These plastic headed pins are great for holding down setting paper etc when the bug is drying but are guaranteed to corrode after time in the insects body (they aren't stainless steel and therefore aren't inert).

You've done a good job spreading this but it really is worth considering relaxing it, removing the pin and re-setting on an entomology pin...that way it will stay in tip top condition for a lifetime

Please don't think I'm in any way "having a go". I'd hate to see your catches (and hard work setting them) go to waste using pins that are guaranteed to corrode.

Simon

[mercuryvapor]

Thanks for the advice. I do appreciate it. I'm not sure it applies here. We have a very dry climate and low humidity. I've never seen any corrosion regardless of pins used. Some of my specimens are over 40 years in age. Most specimens that are really special to us get removed from the pin and put on display in Riker's mounts.

[Deleted]

It strongly resembles Cyanophrys goodsoni to me.

[leptraps]

Do you have a photograph of the under side?

[prillbug2]

I think it's Calycopis isobeon--the dusky ground streak. Probably a late specimen, or a stray from Mexico.
Jeff Prill.

[mercuryvapor]

Thanks for the replies. I looked up cyanophrys goodsoni and ruled it out because although matching on top, that species has a green underside. I think mine must be calycopis isobeon. It looks very similar except the little squiggle marks on the top side of the forewings. I assume that's just a minor variation.

I have a picture of the underside but it's too blurry to be worth posting here.