Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 84,461 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Gray Hairstreak: observations by month (U.S.)
Gray Hairstreak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 30,469 | April | Apr–Jul |
| California | 16,592 | August | May–Oct |
| Florida | 3,317 | June | May–Oct |
| Arizona | 3,005 | September | Feb–Oct |
| Virginia | 2,131 | August | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 1,984 | July | May–Sep |
| Oregon | 1,939 | July | May–Aug |
| Maryland | 1,890 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 1,827 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Ohio | 1,478 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 1,356 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 1,222 | July | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 1,170 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 1,149 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 1,077 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Mexico | 993 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Louisiana | 966 | October | Apr–Oct |
| Washington | 946 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Kansas | 925 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 847 | June | May–Sep |
| New York | 799 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Jersey | 796 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 738 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Carolina | 731 | September | May–Oct |
| Kentucky | 679 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Alabama | 585 | September | Jun–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 542 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 475 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Utah | 451 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Nebraska | 397 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Mississippi | 352 | July | May–Oct |
| Idaho | 331 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Nevada | 324 | July | Apr–Oct |
| Connecticut | 322 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 315 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Delaware | 269 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Michigan | 206 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 140 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Iowa | 126 | August | Aug–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 106 | September | Jun–Oct |
| West Virginia | 93 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Montana | 78 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Rhode Island | 67 | August | Jul–Oct |
| South Dakota | 66 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 59 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 47 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Minnesota | 43 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Wyoming | 26 | July | Jul–Jul |
| North Dakota | 15 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's Blue
Acmon Blue
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Gray Hairstreak?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Gray Hairstreak most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Florida.