| Ecology and Life History | |
| Description | A bright green hairstreak butteffly of cedar swamps.
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| Size | |
| Diagnostic Characteristics | Records must be based on a specimen (preferred) or photograph, since, at least in New Jersey, and probably in some other places, green hairstreaks on white cedar often are <i>C. gryneus</i> contrary to what the field guides say. Virtually all photographs should be identifiable. All major recent butterfly guides illustrate both species. The front most white spot of the forewing white band is offset out from the others, which is probably the easiest character. The exact shade of green is very different from <i>C. gryneus</i> but this is not useful unless one already knows that species well. The general effect is also more frosted (see especially picture in Glassberg, 1999). The white postmedian band on the hindwings is conspicuously accompanied by brown on the outside of at least the concave parts and sometimes more , and the brown along the inner side is generally continuous and more conspicuous. <i>C. gryneus</i> has substantial brown only on the inner side. Lycaenid larvae on white cedar will nearly always be this species, and both species are illustrated by Maier <i>et al</i>. (2004). <br>
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| Habitat | Atlantic white cedar swamps, concentrations of white cedars in more mixed swamps, bogs with scattered patches of white cedars or more often a ring of cedars around the edge. Adults stray at times to nearby flowers. Does not require mature or virgin stands.
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| Food Habits | In nature larvae are restricted to CHAMAECYPARIS THYOIDES, the spring brood (only brood northward) feeding on the new growth. Adults of the spring broods do not visit flowers much, and in New Jersey will almost always choose LEIOPHYLLUM or ARONIA blossoms and the flight season is perfectly timed for these. Blueberry and others are used elsewhwere. Clethra and buttonbush are probably major nectar flowers for the second brood.
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| Phenology | In New Jersey and northward there is one brood in mid spring, with a few stragglers emerging in July and possibly a real partial second brood in New Jersey in early seasons--despite the lack of evidence. When reared a second brood usually occurs, resulting in false reports of normal second broods. In New Jersey adults are seen mostly from about April 25 to May 5 in Cumberland County, mostly in the first half of May in the Pine Barrens, with a worn straggler as late as 22 June, 1999. In the Boston area and in Maine emergence can be delayed by cold maritime springs until quite late in May and adults can be found into June some years. In most of New England mid or late May seems to be the best time to look. South of New Jersey there are two or three broods with adult peaks about two months apart, starting about early or mid April in Virginia and the Carolinas and mid March in Florida. Larvae occur immediately after each adult flight for probably four to six weeks. The egg stage is brief, and pupae of the last, or only, brood diapause. Adults may come down for nectar at rather specific time of day probably late, but in very hot weather (>30 deg.C) they can be found on flowers much of the day including mid-day (Schweitzer, observations in New Jersey in spring).
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