The Gossamer-Winged butterfly, (family Lycaenidae), is a group of small, often brightly colored butterflies (order Lepidoptera) that includes several hundred species commonly called coppers, blues, hairstreaks, harvesters, and metal marks. They are all are small to medium-sized butterflies.
There are twenty-four species of Gossamer-Wing butterflies found in Tennessee. Click on the links below for pictures, facts, and a list of host and nectar plants for each species of Gossamer-Winged butterflies.
- Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius)
- American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus)
- Great Purple Hairstreak (Atilides halesus)
- Coral Hairstreak (Satrium titus)
- Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)
- Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus)
- Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
- Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius)
- Brown Elfin (Callophyrs augustinus)
- Henry’s Elfin (Callophyrs henrici)
- Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon)
- Juniper Hairstreak (Callophyrys gryneus)
- White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album)
- Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
- Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
- Early Hairstreak (Erora laeta)
- Reakirt’s Blue (Hemiargus isola)
- Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas)
- Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
- Summer Azure (Celastrina ladon neglecta)
- Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglectamajor)
- Dusky Azure (Celastrina nigra)
- Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)