Conserving and restoring at risk species and ecosystems on the BC South Coast
Johnson's Hairstreak
Callophrys johnsoni
A member of the family Lycaenidae (“Gossamer Winged” butterflies), the second largest global family of butterflies. Johnson’s Hairstreak is also known as “Mistletoe” Hairstreak or “Brown Mistletoe” Hairstreak, a reference to the larval dependence on subspecies of mistletoe.
COSEWIC: Not listed, BC List: Red / Identified Wildlife
Wingspan: 2.5-3.5 cm. Adult males and females are similar, with subtle colouration differences on the uppersides of both sets of wings. Males are chocolate-brown except for an orange-brown ‘tail’, females are more reddish or orange-brown except for brown on the wing margins and the area near the tail. Undersides of wings of both sexes are brown with a thin, jagged white line, bordered with black, running across both sets of wings on the inside edge. The hindwing has a small “tail” with a few black dots and bluish and orange scales. Males have larger eyes than females, which may assist in detecting mates. Larvae are green or yellowish-olive with red, green, yellow, or white markings and lighter raised chevrons that somewhat resemble “scutes” (bony protrusions or scales), that run down the dorsal area. Larvae emit a sugary solution through a “honey gland” (dorsal nectary organ). Ants feed on the solution and protect the caterpillar from predators.Hibernating pupae are dark brown.
RESOURCES
Baker River Project Terrestrial Working Group Analysis
For further information see:
A sources for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC.
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
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An initiative of the Province of BC to provide more explicit guidance and conservation on specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern that are impacted by forestry activities.
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