Strymon alea

Description

Strymon alea, the Alea hairstreak or Lacey's scrub-hairstreak, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It was described by Frederick DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin in 1887. It is found from north-western Costa Rica through Mexico to central and southern Texas. The habitat consists of subtropical thorn scrub. The wingspan is 19–29 mm. The upperside is dark gray and the underside is gray with a pattern of blotches near the wing base and an irregular brown postmedian line, as well as a submarginal stripe of small, brown triangular spots. Adults feed on flower nectar. The larvae feed on the buds and flowers and Bernardia myricaefolia.