Atlantic-white-cedar

Guides

• Callophrys hesseli

  Hessel's Hairstreak

  Hessel's Hairstreak is a small lycaenid butterfly endemic to Atlantic coastal wetlands of the eastern United States. The species exhibits complete ecological dependence on Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), which serves as the exclusive larval host plant and provides adult camouflage habitat. Populations are patchily distributed and declining due to habitat loss, with state-level endangered status in Connecticut and G3 vulnerable ranking globally.

  butterflylycaenidhairstreakwetland-specialistendangeredAtlantic-white-cedarhost-specificdiapauselek-mating