Mitoura nelsoni

Nelson's Hairstreak

Nelsoni is related to juniper-feeding hairstreaks whose populations may overlap its own, but it is a specialist on Calocedrus decurrens, incense cedar. It has a single brood, from May into July. It is less boldly patterned underneath as well, with the white line typical of its congeners reduced or nearly absent. It helps to look around for incense cedar trees if you find a hairstreak that you think may be nelsoni. In the Big Bear region, siva looks similar but uses western juniper trees as their larval food plant.