White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 3,128 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
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 White M Hairstreak: observations by month (U.S.)
About White M Hairstreak
Parrhasius m-album, the white M hairstreak, is a species of butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the United States from Connecticut west to southeast Iowa and Missouri south to east Texas the Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. On rare occasions some stray to Michigan and Wisconsin.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
White M Hairstreak by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 638 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Virginia | 265 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Maryland | 258 | September | Aug–Sep |
| North Carolina | 235 | September | Mar–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 184 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Texas | 170 | April | Mar–Jul |
| New Jersey | 148 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New York | 148 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Georgia | 137 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Tennessee | 113 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Ohio | 112 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 93 | August | Aug–Sep |
| South Carolina | 64 | June | Feb–Jul |
| Louisiana | 63 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Connecticut | 62 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Alabama | 51 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Missouri | 50 | September | Sep–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 45 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Arkansas | 44 | March | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 34 | September | Jul–Sep |
| West Virginia | 34 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 25 | March | Mar–May |
| Maine | 20 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Mississippi | 20 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Delaware | 17 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Illinois | 17 | April | Apr–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 16 | April | Apr–May |
| Rhode Island | 16 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Vermont | 12 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Indiana | 10 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Kansas | 8 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Michigan | 8 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Iowa | 5 | September | Aug–Oct |
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 White M Hairstreak?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from March to September.
Where is White M Hairstreak most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Virginia, Maryland.