hairstreak

[ hair-streek ]

noun

1. any small, dark butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, subfamily Theclinae, having hairlike tails on the hindwings.

hairstreak

/ ˈhɛəˌstriːk /

noun

1. any small butterfly of the genus Callophrys and related genera, having fringed wings marked with narrow white streaks: family Lycaenidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of hairstreak¹

First recorded in 1810–20; hair + streak

Example Sentences

The spokesperson said the Sheffield tree was "fortunately resistant" to the disease and was also home to the white-letter hairstreak butterfly, which had saved it from the chop during Sheffield City Council's felling programme.

From BBC

The white-letter hairstreak’s northward journey is thought to be a response to the warming climate.

From Salon

In Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man similar measures are in place to protect species, including the dingy skipper and the purple hairstreak.

From BBC

Thought to be about 120 years old, that elm has won a stay of execution, but only because it is home to a rare species of butterfly, the white-letter hairstreak.

From New York Times

Also unknown are the post-Irma populations of Bartram’s hairstreak, a butterfly found only on Big Pine Key that depends on a plant also found only on that one island.

From National Geographic