Juniper Hairstreak 
Callophrys gryneus

Juniper Hairstreak is uncommon statewide but is locally common in colonies where its hostplants are numerous. There are two races: “Olive” Juniper Hairstreak, the nominate gryneus race, and “Sweadner’s” Juniper Hairstreak, the habitat restricted sweadneri race. In the Southwest (Early and Dougherty counties) apparent intergrades of the two races are documented. The hostplant for the gryneus race is eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus var. virginiana) that occurs in scattered locations statewide but forms clusters on granite outcrops in the Piedmont, in calcareous glades in Northwest Georgia and in other places with dry, rocky soil, as well as in wet floodplains and swamp edges and along fencerows. The hostplant for the sweadneri race is southern redcedar (Juniperus silicicola), which is restricted to the immediate Coastal counties as well as Charlton, Ware and Clinch counties. There are two broods in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley and a possible third brood on the Coast in the fall. The spring brood appears in April and May in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley and in March and April on the Coast. The summer brood appears from July to September in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley and in July and August on the Coast. The fall brood occurs in late September and October on the Coast. The Sweadner’s race has been documented in Coastal counties of Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden. Early Date: March 4 (Early County); Late Date: October 10 (Glynn County). Conservation Status: Nominate gryneus race is secure because its hostplant is plentiful and widespread, but the sweadneri race has a Nature Conservancy ranking of T2, “imperiled wherever it occurs”, and measures are needed to preserve its hostplant, southern redcedar.