Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,751 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Great Purple Hairstreak: observations by month (U.S.)
About Great Purple Hairstreak
The great purple hairstreak (Atlides halesus), also called the great blue hairstreak, is a common gossamer-winged butterfly species in parts of the United States. It is actually a Neotropical species; its North American range only includes the warm-temperate and subtropical parts of that continent, and it ranges southwards almost to the Isthmus of Panama. The type specimen, however, was shipped to Europe from the Colony of Virginia, probably around the time of the United States Declaration...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Great Purple Hairstreak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 4,283 | October | Sep–Nov |
| California | 1,210 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Florida | 1,175 | April | Mar–May |
| Arizona | 934 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Georgia | 459 | September | Aug–Oct |
| North Carolina | 322 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Mexico | 188 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 165 | September | Jun–Oct |
| South Carolina | 164 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Virginia | 139 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Nevada | 122 | June | Mar–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 110 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Louisiana | 105 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 85 | September | May–Oct |
| Maryland | 76 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kentucky | 57 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Tennessee | 50 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Oregon | 39 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Arkansas | 33 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Utah | 14 | May | Apr–May |
| Colorado | 11 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Delaware | 9 | September | Aug–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's 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 Great Purple Hairstreak?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from March to November.
Where is Great Purple Hairstreak most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Florida.