Wing span: 2.2-3.2 cm.
Flight time: Two broods; the first flying from late-April through May, the second from late-June through early August.
Status: Breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: The wing underside is a striking green with a jagged white postmedial line bordered medially in brown. Wing appearance above changes between the two broods. In the spring both fore and hindwings have orange-brown centers with brown margins. In the summer form, the upper wing surface is unmarked and dark brown.
Distribution and habitat: Uncommon, with populations concentrated in the eastern and western thirds of the state. It occurs most frequently on limestone and sand prairies in the east and the Loess Hill and xeric gravel prairie in the west.
Natural History: Larvae consume red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) living on the margins or matrix of native xeric prairie. Adults rest in cedar branches with wings closed, allowing the green cast of the hindwing underside to afford a good degree of camouflage. Sweeping (or beating) cedar branches is often an effective sampling method when adults are not active. Active individuals may commonly be seen in spiral encounter flights above cedar trees. Although cedar is common throughout Iowa in a variety of disturbed habitats (like old fields), populations of the olive hairstreak have yet to be found in such situations. It has also not been found in the central third of the state, in spite of repeated location attempts.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By |
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2018-06-07 | Clear Creek Fen | Iowa | 43.452815 -91.424687 | Tom Schlike |
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2018-06-07 | Clear Creek Fen | Iowa | 43.452815 -91.424687 | Tom Schlike |
194375 | 2017-07-17 | Woodburn | Iowa | 41.01194 -93.59911 | Jacob Newton |
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2017-04-24 | Geode State Park | Iowa | 40.823969 -91.378233 | Mark Brown |
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2017-04-23 | Geode State Park | Iowa | 40.81944 -91.39194 | Mark Brown |
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2017-04-23 | Geode State Park | Iowa | 40.81944 -91.39194 | Mark Brown |
202737 | 2017-04-17 | Shimek State Forest, Farmington Unit | Iowa | 40.653998 -91.72554 | Chris Edwards |
180515 | 2016-07-15 | Medora Prairie | Iowa | 41.209512 -93.627408 | Frank Olsen |
180484 | 2016-07-09 | Hamilton Prairie, Jackson County | Iowa | 42.07133 -90.559 | Frank Olsen |
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2016-07-08 | Pella | Iowa | 0 0 | SR Johnson |
171591 | 2016-07-05 | Hitchcock Nature Center | Iowa | 41.41733 -95.85388 | Doug Veal |
130923 | 2015-07-22 | Armund Bartz Prairie | Iowa | 43.429728 -91.310705 | Frank Olsen |
131349 | 2015-07-22 | Mile Long Prairie | Iowa | 43.40655 -91.550008 | Frank Olsen |
130943 | 2015-07-21 | Black Hawk Point Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.4602778 -91.2980555 | Frank Olsen |
128236 | 2015-07-18 | Hitchcock Nature Center | Iowa | 41.41733 -95.85388 | Ed Freese |
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2014-07-19 | Marion County | Iowa | 41.325547 -93.069235 | Ron Huelse |
51339 | 2013-07-10 | Hitchcock Nature Center | Iowa | 41.41733 -95.85388 | Ed Freese |
2114 | 2012-07-07 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.1619688 -91.218672 | BAMONA |
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2012-07-07 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.1619444 -91.2186111 | Tom Jantscher |
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2012-07-07 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.1738889 -91.2211111 | Tom Jantscher |
7824 | 2012-07-07 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.1727778 -91.2216667 | Tom Jantscher |
112585 | 2012-07-07 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.170603 -91.240395 | Chris Edwards |
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2012-05-05 | Ciha Fen Wildlife Preserve | Iowa | 41.82917 -91.38278 | Mark Brown |
51332 | 2012-04-26 | Ciha Fen Wildlife Preserve | Iowa | 41.82917 -91.38278 | Scarths |
6553 | 2011-07-24 | Sylvan Runkel State Preserve | Iowa | 42.105 -95.98233 | Aaron Brees |
6554 | 2011-07-24 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.153044 -95.796881 | Aaron Brees |
112584 | 2011-07-17 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.170603 -91.240395 | Chris Edwards |
6551 | 2011-05-22 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.153044 -95.796881 | Aaron Brees |
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2011-05-08 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.15304 -95.79688 | Aaron Brees |
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2011-05-05 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.15304 -95.79688 | Aaron Brees |
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2010-09-04 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.15304 -95.79688 | Aaron Brees |
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2010-09-04 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.163523 -95.797316 | Aaron Brees |
6549 | 2010-05-29 | Gleason-Hubel Wildlife Area | Iowa | 41.80231 -95.98757 | Aaron Brees |
135116 | 2008-07-26 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.153044 -95.796881 | Tom Jantscher |
106760 | 2008-05-17 | Adel - Prairie Seed Production Plots | Iowa | 41.658682 -94.030508 | Ed Freese |
51343 | 2007-07-11 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen |
51344 | 2007-07-01 | Manikowski Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 41.972843 -90.375383 | Frank Olsen |
112581 | 2006-07-15 | Hawkeye Willdlife Management Area | Iowa | 41.775104 -91.705532 | Chris Edwards |
106761 | 2006-04-23 | Dallas County | Iowa | 41.682923 -94.021682 | Harlan Ratcliff |
112583 | 2003-04-26 | Beam's Woods | Iowa | 42.142425 -91.343915 | Chris Edwards |
106764 | 2002-07-26 | Anderson Prairie, Decorah | Iowa | 43.31556 -91.80167 | Kirk Larsen |
112580 | 2002-07-20 | Rochester Cemetery | Iowa | 41.664973 -91.13914 | Chris Edwards |
112582 | 2001-07-21 | MacBride Nature Recreation Area | Iowa | 41.786242 -91.566399 | Chris Edwards |
18212 | 2001-04-29 | Westphal Timber, Jones | Iowa | 42.1349 -90.95348 | Jim Durbin |
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2001-04-29 | Westphal Timber, Jones | Iowa | 42.1349 -90.95348 | Jim Durbin |
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2000-04-30 | Westphal Timber, Jones | Iowa | 42.1359861 -90.9607556 | Jim Durbin |
51330 | 1999-07-10 | Five Ridges Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.6496 -96.5032 | Tim Orwig |
51350 | 1998-07-20 | Winneshiek County | Iowa | 43.23626 -91.90993 | |
51349 | 1998-06-12 | Winneshiek County | Iowa | 43.23626 -91.90993 | |
112586 | 1998-05-14 | Yellow River State Forest | Iowa | 43.170603 -91.240395 | Chris Edwards |
51331 | 1994-07-10 | Cedar Hills Sand Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.59305 -92.55315 | Ed Freese |
51338 | 1992-08-08 | Hitaga Sand Ridge Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.25233 -91.63633 | Frank Olsen |
51347 | 1992-08-08 | Millard Preserve | Iowa | 42.227954 -91.5335 | Frank Olsen |
51336 | 1992-08-01 | Hitaga Sand Ridge Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.25233 -91.63633 | Frank Olsen |
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1992-08-01 | Hitaga Sand Ridge Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.24944 -91.63056 | Frank Olsen |
51337 | 1992-07-18 | Hitaga Sand Ridge Prairie Preserve | Iowa | 42.25233 -91.63633 | Frank Olsen |
51346 | 1992-05-17 | Millard Preserve | Iowa | 42.227954 -91.5335 | Frank Olsen |
51345 | 1992-05-08 | Millard Preserve | Iowa | 42.227954 -91.5335 | Frank Olsen |
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1992-05-08 | Millard Preserve | Iowa | 42.227871 -91.532398 | Frank Olsen |
51342 | 1991-07-06 | Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 42.08 -95.9765 | Tim Orwig |
124803 | 1990-08-01 | Bearbower Sand Prairie | Iowa | 42.29944 -91.92722 | Frank Olsen |
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1990-08-01 | Bearbower Sand Prairie | Iowa | 42.29944 -91.92722 | Frank Olsen |
106763 | 1989-07-21 | Pocahontas County | Iowa | 42.74456 -94.683864 | Ron Harms |
106762 | 1989-07-17 | Pocahontas County | Iowa | 42.74456 -94.683864 | Ron Harms |
51334 | 1988-06-03 | Five Ridges Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.67867 -96.53473 | Tim Orwig |
51333 | 1988-05-01 | Five Ridges Prairie State Preserve | Iowa | 42.67867 -96.53473 | Tim Orwig |
51335 | 1987-07-10 | French Creek Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 43.39075 -91.412 | J. Nehuevaj |
106759 | 1987-07-10 | Big Sand Mound Prairie Preserve, Muscatine County | Iowa | 41.341015 -91.086545 | Dennis Schlicht |
51340 | 1987-06-30 | Iowa Twp | Iowa | 43.495821 -91.282811 | J. Nehuevaj |
106758 | 1987-05-09 | Big Sand Mound Prairie Preserve, Muscatine County | Iowa | 41.341015 -91.086545 | Dennis Schlicht |
106757 | 1987-04-27 | Big Sand Mound Prairie Preserve, Muscatine County | Iowa | 41.341015 -91.086545 | Dennis Schlicht |
51341 | 1987-01-01 | Lansing Twp | Iowa | 43.36088 -91.21897 | J. Nehuevaj |
51348 | 1987-01-01 | Clear Creek Fen | Iowa | 43.455306 -91.42388 | J. Nehuevaj |
2113 | 1950-01-01 | Allamakee County | Iowa | 43.243076 -91.443466 | USGS - NPWRC |
2115 | 1950-01-01 | Benton County | Iowa | 42.138725 -92.066521 | USGS - NPWRC |
2116 | 1950-01-01 | Black Hawk County | Iowa | 42.447803 -92.381363 | USGS - NPWRC |
2117 | 1950-01-01 | Buchanan County | Iowa | 42.4566 -91.909927 | USGS - NPWRC |
2118 | 1950-01-01 | Butler County | Iowa | 42.750217 -92.857712 | USGS - NPWRC |
2119 | 1950-01-01 | Clay County | Iowa | 43.136803 -95.143204 | USGS - NPWRC |
2120 | 1950-01-01 | Clayton County | Iowa | 42.77853 -91.289101 | USGS - NPWRC |
2121 | 1950-01-01 | Clinton County | Iowa | 41.878563 -90.563606 | USGS - NPWRC |
2122 | 1950-01-01 | Fayette County | Iowa | 42.925819 -91.909927 | USGS - NPWRC |
2123 | 1950-01-01 | Fremont County | Iowa | 40.74004 -95.645798 | USGS - NPWRC |
2124 | 1950-01-01 | Harrison County | Iowa | 41.693386 -95.814285 | USGS - NPWRC |
2125 | 1950-01-01 | Henry County | Iowa | 41.028358 -91.598396 | USGS - NPWRC |
2126 | 1950-01-01 | Jackson County | Iowa | 42.156071 -90.52578 | USGS - NPWRC |
2127 | 1950-01-01 | Johnson County | Iowa | 41.669899 -91.598396 | USGS - NPWRC |
2128 | 1950-01-01 | Jones County | Iowa | 42.151672 -91.1353 | USGS - NPWRC |
2129 | 1950-01-01 | Linn County | Iowa | 42.065983 -91.676071 | USGS - NPWRC |
2130 | 1950-01-01 | Louisa County | Iowa | 41.193298 -91.289101 | USGS - NPWRC |
2131 | 1950-01-01 | Lyon County | Iowa | 43.3936 -96.2479 | USGS - NPWRC |
2132 | 1950-01-01 | Madison County | Iowa | 41.292236 -93.987846 | USGS - NPWRC |
2133 | 1950-01-01 | Mills County | Iowa | 41.06245 -95.645798 | USGS - NPWRC |
2134 | 1950-01-01 | Mitchell County | Iowa | 43.371071 -92.857712 | USGS - NPWRC |
2135 | 1950-01-01 | Monona County | Iowa | 42.001595 -95.983261 | USGS - NPWRC |
2136 | 1950-01-01 | Muscatine County | Iowa | 41.51569 -91.1353 | USGS - NPWRC |
2137 | 1950-01-01 | Page County | Iowa | 40.763512 -95.143204 | USGS - NPWRC |
2138 | 1950-01-01 | Plymouth County | Iowa | 42.776665 -96.152695 | USGS - NPWRC |
2139 | 1950-01-01 | Pocahontas County | Iowa | 42.691803 -94.645035 | USGS - NPWRC |
2140 | 1950-01-01 | Pottawattamie County | Iowa | 41.391151 -95.477783 | USGS - NPWRC |
2141 | 1950-01-01 | Union County | Iowa | 41.000687 -94.274361 | USGS - NPWRC |