Wing span: 2.4-3.0 cm.
Flight time: Mid to late-April.
Status: Breeding resident.
Distinguishing features: Henry's Elfin is brown above with a golden cast in the limbal area of the hindwing. Below, wing color is dark brown on the medial area basal to the body. A jagged line separates this region from the discal and limbal areas that are greenish-tan with gray overscaling at the margin. There is a row of small brown spots in the center of the limbal area. The hindwing margin is scalloped to tail.
Distribution and habitat: Apparently scattered and rare in the southern third of the state where it occurs in woodlands.
Natural History: Larvae consume redbud (Cercis canadensis). Pupae stages diapause through summer and winter and are capable of sound production (as are most hairstreaks). Adults fly only in the immediate vicinity of redbud trees. This species may be overlooked in Iowa, owing to its very early and short flight, and strict restriction to native redbud stands.
Record # | Date | Locale | State | Lat/Lon | Collected By | Count |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
359347 | 2024-04-15 | Red Cedar Wildlife Area | Iowa | 41.456613 -91.273158 | Mark Madsen | 2 |
359344 | 2024-04-13 | Red Haw State Park | Iowa | 40.999888 -93.277328 | Mark Madsen | 8 |
346412 | 2023-04-29 | Slip Bluff County Park | Iowa | 40.652884 -93.847544 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
334019 | 2023-04-18 | Cedar View Trail | Iowa | 40.991056 -92.00503 | Therese Cummiskey | 1 |
349450 | 2023-04-16 | Cedar View Trail | Iowa | 40.990678 -92.005197 | Therese Cummiskey | 1 |
317752 | 2022-05-07 | Stephens State Forest- Mine Pond | Iowa | 41.016084 -93.479874 | Jay Gilliam | 2 |
317735 | 2022-05-01 | Slip Bluff County Park | Iowa | 40.652884 -93.847544 | Jay Gilliam | 8 |
317724 | 2022-04-24 | Slip Bluff County Park | Iowa | 40.652884 -93.847544 | Jay Gilliam | 13 |
317717 | 2022-04-23 | Lacey-Keosauqua State Park | Iowa | 40.711116 -91.979143 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
300357 | 2021-04-24 | Slip Bluff County Park | Iowa | 40.652884 -93.847544 | Jay Gilliam | 13 |
291515 | 2021-04-23 | Glenwood Archaeological State Preserve | Iowa | 41.0295786 -95.7454312 | S_Gucciardo | 1 |
300348 | 2021-04-18 | Hitchcock Nature Center | Iowa | 41.41602 -95.859676 | Jay Gilliam | 4 |
287453 | 2021-04-17 | Red Haw State Park | Iowa | 40.999629 -93.276016 | Jay Gilliam | 1 |
300338 | 2021-04-17 | Red Haw State Park | Iowa | 41.000066 -93.276966 | Jay Gilliam | 3 |
300326 | 2021-04-11 | Slip Bluff County Park | Iowa | 40.652884 -93.847544 | Jay Gilliam | 26 |
300328 | 2021-04-11 | Decatur Wildlife Management Area | Iowa | 40.831388 -93.856857 | Jay Gilliam | 9 |
300335 | 2021-04-11 | Stephens State Forest- Mine Pond | Iowa | 41.016084 -93.479874 | Jay Gilliam | 2 |
264902 | 2020-05-22 | Cherry Glen Picnic Area | Iowa | 41.735824 -93.684544 | Barb Manning | 1 |
275188 | 2020-05-07 | Slip Bluff County Park | Iowa | 40.652884 -93.847544 | Jay Gilliam | 2 |
275354 | 2020-04-30 | Red Haw State Park | Iowa | 41.000066 -93.276966 | Jay Gilliam | 20 |
275270 | 2020-04-07 | Woodland Mounds State Preserve | Iowa | 41.346447 -93.432063 | Jay Gilliam | 4 |
248634 | 2019-05-05 | Lacey-Keosauqua State Park | Iowa | 40.712037 -91.976555 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
247250 | 2019-04-22 | Cordova Park | Iowa | 41.426287 -93.095161 | Marla Mertz | 1 |
228433 | 2018-05-04 | Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit East | Iowa | 40.545896 -91.616881 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
201900 | 2017-07-24 | Marion County | Iowa | 41.325547 -93.069235 | Marla Mertz | 1 |
194372 | 2017-07-22 | Cordova Park | Iowa | 41.425499 -93.085661 | Marla Mertz | 1 |
138401 | 2015-04-13 | Cordova Park | Iowa | 41.426704 -93.086623 | MJ Hatfield | 1 |
136225 | 2015-04-06 | Decatur County, Iowa | Iowa | Location Protected | Sibylla Brown | 1 |
109982 | 2014-05-06 | Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit East | Iowa | 40.547231 -91.620499 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
67815 | 2014-05-03 | Along Danford Lane-x | Iowa | 40.415169 -91.484033 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
18215 | 2013-06-11 | Big Lake Area, St Louis, Ely | Minnesota | 48.06722 -91.93667 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
18216 | 2013-06-11 | Big Lake Area, St Louis, Ely | Minnesota | 48.06722 -91.93667 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
18217 | 2013-06-11 | Big Lake Area, St Louis, Ely | Minnesota | 48.06722 -91.93667 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
18221 | 2013-06-11 | Big Lake Area, St Louis, Ely | Minnesota | 48.06722 -91.93667 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
7825 | 2013-04-28 | Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | Iowa | 40.6472222 -91.6866667 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
6555 | 2012-04-01 | Red Haw State Park | Iowa | 40.996 -93.27917 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
6556 | 2012-04-01 | Stephens State Forest - Thousand Acre Unit, Lucas County | Iowa | 41.103003 -93.101751 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
6557 | 2011-05-08 | Folsom Point Preserve | Iowa | 41.153044 -95.796881 | Aaron Brees | 2 |
6558 | 2011-05-08 | Hitchcock Nature Center | Iowa | 41.416 -95.8495 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
7826 | 2011-05-08 | Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | Iowa | 40.6461111 -91.6877778 | Tom Jantscher | 1 |
208661 | 2011-04-10 | Elk Rock State Park | Iowa | 41.4022 -93.0851 | Aaron Brees | 8 |
106765 | 2009-05-02 | Roberts Creek Park | Iowa | 41.423252 -93.058233 | 1 | |
208660 | 2008-07-17 | Elk Rock State Park | Iowa | 41.4022 -93.0851 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
138479 | 2008-04-23 | Elk Rock State Park | Iowa | 41.4 -93.0752 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
208662 | 2008-04-23 | Elk Rock State Park | Iowa | 41.4022 -93.0851 | Aaron Brees | 1 |
18214 | 2006-05-01 | Shimek State Forest, Donnellson Unit | Iowa | 40.64833 -91.68057 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
18213 | 2006-04-22 | Lacey-Keosauqua State Park | Iowa | 40.71688 -91.9908 | Jim Durbin | 1 |
112587 | 2005-05-16 | Shimek State Forest, Lick Creek Unit | Iowa | 40.61233 -91.685905 | Chris Edwards | 1 |
51351 | 2002-05-05 | Honey Creek State Park | Iowa | 40.86526 -92.94011 | Frank Olsen | 2 |
51352 | 2002-04-23 | Honey Creek State Park | Iowa | 40.86526 -92.94011 | Frank Olsen | 3 |
51354 | 1990-04-23 | Sugar Bottom Recreational Area | Iowa | 41.75757 -91.5626 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
124725 | 1990-04-23 | Sugar Bottom Recreational Area | Iowa | 41.75757 -91.5626 | Frank Olsen | 3 |
144213 | 1990-04-23 | Sugar Bottom Recreational Area | Iowa | 41.75757 -91.5626 | Frank Olsen | 1 |
51353 | 1980-05-01 | Shimek State Forest, Croton Unit East | Iowa | 40.54693 -91.61435 | Mike Overton | 1 |
51355 | 1962-04-29 | Waubonsie State Park | Iowa | 40.676 -95.689 | Ron Royer | 2 |
2142 | 1950-04-28 | Sidney | Iowa | 40.74004 -95.645798 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2143 | 1950-04-28 | Johnson County | Iowa | 41.669899 -91.598396 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2144 | 1950-04-28 | Lucas County | Iowa | 40.991203 -93.33889 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2145 | 1950-04-28 | Mahaska County | Iowa | 41.32959 -92.698387 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2146 | 1950-04-28 | Marion County | Iowa | 41.317383 -93.177963 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2147 | 1950-04-28 | Mills County | Iowa | 41.06245 -95.645798 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2148 | 1950-04-28 | Page County | Iowa | 40.763512 -95.143204 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2149 | 1950-04-28 | Pottawattamie County | Iowa | 41.391151 -95.477783 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |
2150 | 1950-04-28 | Warren County | Iowa | 41.308056 -93.500343 | USGS - NPWRC | 1 |