The green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

Etymology

thumb|Close up of body, [[WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes]]

The genus name Callophrys is a Greek word meaning "beautiful eyebrows", while the species Latin name rubi derives from Rubus (bramble), one of the host plants.

Subspecies

  • Callophrys rubi borealis <small>(Krulikovsky, 1890)</small> Urals
  • Callophrys rubi fervida <small>(Staudinger, 1901)</small> Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Asia Minor
  • Callophrys rubi martinae <small>ten Hagen, 2012</small> Iran
  • Callophrys rubi rubi Europe, Caucasus, Kopet Dag
  • Callophrys rubi sibirica <small>(Rühl, 1895)</small> Tien-Shan, Altai, Siberia, Transbaikalia, Far East, Amur (Outer Manchuria), Ussuri and Sakhalin.

Description

Callophrys rubi has a wingspan reaching about in length. The oversides of the wings are a uniform dull brown, with two paler patches on the male's forewings made up of scent scales. The caterpillars are green with yellow markings along the back.

Life cycle and behavior

thumb|200px|left|Egg

thumb|230px|left|Figure 3 from [[Karl Eckstein's Die Schmetterlinge Deutschlands depicts the larva, pupa and imago]]

These butterflies can be found at the end of March, with flight time usually lasting until the end of June, but they are sometimes seen in July and early August. The males exhibit territorial behavior. North Africa, Russia, Asia Minor, Siberia, Amurland, Baluchistan and Chitral.