New Mexico State Butterfly

Sandia Hairstreak

(Callophrys mcfarlandi Ehrlich & Clench)

Adopted in 2003.

The Sandia hairstreak, or Callophrys macfarlandi, is the official state butterfly. The Sandia hairstreak was discovered in Albuquerque in 1959 at La Cueva Canyon and can easily be found in New Mexico's wide open spaces, towns and cities among native beargrass. The butterfly is gold and green in color, while its caterpillar is pink, lavender and white. In 2002, the state legislature studied the possibility of including the Sandia hairstreak as an official symbol of New Mexico. In 2003, the legislature adopted the Sandia hairstreak as the official state butterfly.

Wing span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/4 inches (2.9 - 3.2 cm).

Identification: Tailless. Upperside of male is brown; female is reddish brown with a narrow black border. Underside yellow-green; white postmedian line bordered with black toward the wing base.

Life history: Eggs are laid on flower stalks of the host plant. Caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits.

Flight: Two flights from May-June.

Caterpillar hosts: Beargrass (Nolina texana) in the agave family (Agavaceae).

Adult food: Nectar of host plant flowers.

Habitat: Yucca-agave desert.

Range: Very local: Southeast Colorado south through New Mexico and west Texas to northeast Mexico.

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 1 45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002 INTRODUCED BY Max Coll A JOINT MEMORIAL RECOMMENDING THAT NEW MEXICO CONSIDER NAMING THE SANDIA HAIRSTREAK THE OFFICIAL NEW MEXICO BUTTERFLY. WHEREAS, New Mexico's state symbols include the official animal, cookie, flower, insect, grass, fish, fossil, bird, question, gem and vegetable, but do not currently include an official butterfly; and WHEREAS, adding an official butterfly symbol would add color, beauty and diversity to the state's array of existing symbols; and WHEREAS, at least seventeen other states have official butterfly symbols, and these states include New Mexico's neighbors Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas, as well as Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont and Virginia; and WHEREAS, butterflies enhance the beauty of the environment, and naming a butterfly symbol would benefit tourism and the economy of New Mexico by bringing attention to a New Mexico butterfly, by adding credibility to New Mexico among entomologists, which may encourage scientific research in the state, and by providing educational opportunities for study and appreciation of the butterfly and its habitat; and WHEREAS, naming a New Mexico butterfly would enhance awareness of the importance of butterflies, in ecosystems as important pollinators for wildflowers and agricultural crops and promote the conservation of our natural wildlife heritage; and WHEREAS, children love butterflies, and naming a New Mexico butterfly would bring joy to New Mexico's children; and WHEREAS, the Sandia hairstreak butterfly is thought of as uniquely New Mexican; and WHEREAS, the Sandia hairstreak symbolizes the ability of New Mexican residents to thrive year-round in a semiarid climate where different years bring floods and droughts and where the terrain is beautiful but rugged; and WHEREAS, the Sandia hairstreak is one of about twenty-five different species of hairstreaks in the gossamer-wing family residing in New Mexico, and it is small and gold and green in color and it lives in and among beargrass plants, where its pink, lavender and white caterpillars eat beargrass flowers, making the butterfly and its caterpillar easy to identify; and WHEREAS, the Sandia hairstreak was discovered in Albuquerque in 1959 in La Cueva canyon and can be easily found by children among the native beargrass in New Mexico's wide-open spaces as well as in towns and cities where the beargrass plant grows; and WHEREAS, the Sandia hairstreak, a New Mexico native, does not migrate, but stays in the New Mexico landscape year-round and has not been designated as the state butterfly for any other state; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the appropriate legislative interim committee be requested to consider recommendations for the adoption of the Sandia hairstreak, a native New Mexican butterfly, as the official state butterfly, which contributes to the beauty, diversity and enchantment of the New Mexico landscape; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate state agencies be encouraged to promote the Sandia hairstreak, a native New Mexican butterfly, as the official state butterfly, which contributes to the beauty, diversity and enchantment of the New Mexico landscape; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the secretary of state, the tourism department, the state parks division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department, the state land office and other appropriate state agencies; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the wild friends dancers be commended for raising public awareness of the butterfly with their original dance presentation entitled "The New Mexico Gossamer Wing" at the 2002 legislative session.