Description: Looks much like a gray hairstrek above. Dark gray with darker spots on forewings. Tails are a little longer in Strymon Acis than Melinus and the white and red spots on the hindwing are larger. The underside is unmistakable. This handsome butterfly is dark gray on the ventral side With thick white bands that have black boarders. There are large red and black spots on the hind wing. Abdomon is white.

 

Habitat and Distribution: Bartam's Hairstreak is endemic to South Florida. It has several strongholds in Dade County and currently is rare on Big Pine Key. Back in 2000 - 2006 this butterfly was abundant in the pines of Big Pine Key but has since declined.

 

Host Plant: Wooly Croton (Croton linearis)

 

Natural History: The 1980's and 1990's produced a decline in this species range on the mainland. In 2014, this species was federaly listed as an endangered species as there are only a few remaining colonies. Populations in the Keys have drastically declined in recent years.