My chokecherry bushes are just now entertaining full bloom. All manner of bees, flies, wasps, butterflies, and no-name whizbots have swarmed the shroud of fragrant flowers. One butterfly—the Juniper Hairstreak—is especially drawn to the flowers.
The Juniper Hairstreak is a small,
brilliantly colored butterfly found in scattered populations across Montana,
primarily in the drier, open habitats of the state's valleys and foothills.
Montana marks the northern edge of its range, and sightings are typically
limited to areas where Rocky Mountain juniper is well established. The larvae
are host-specific, feeding exclusively on juniper foliage, while adults are
often seen nectaring on a variety of spring wildflowers. With a wingspan of
just about 1 inch, they are comparable in size to a Cheerio or a shirt button,
and their quick, darting flight makes them easy to miss.
The underside of the hindwings is
striking, featuring an iridescent green. Adults are most active from late
spring into early summer, typically in one generation per year in Montana's
climate. My chokecherry bushes are serving as butterfly central for the local
population of Hairstreaks. Standing before one of the bushes, you are likely to
see a dozen or more of these animated paint chips at once. I have posted two
photographs I managed.
—Mitchell Hegman
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