Non-nectar-feeding
Guides
Callirhytis balanacea
Callirhytis balanacea is a species of cynipid wasp in the family Cynipidae, known for inducing pea-sized galls on oak trees. The species produces distinctive pip galls on oak hosts, which exude sugary secretions that serve as food sources for other insects. It has been documented as a gall-forming insect with specific ecological interactions, including serving as a food source for hairstreak butterflies that feed on gall exudates rather than nectar.
Hypaurotis crysalus
Colorado Hairstreak
Hypaurotis crysalus, the Colorado Hairstreak, is a montane butterfly and the sole member of its genus. It was designated Colorado's state insect in 1996 following advocacy by a fourth-grade class in Aurora, Colorado. The species is univoltine, with adults peaking in July and August. It exhibits distinctive purple upper wing surfaces and cryptic gray undersides, and has specialized feeding habits that rarely include flower nectar.