Strymon istapa clenchi

Mallow Scrub Hairstreak

This uncommon hairstreak was described by G. Austin and J. Emmel as a subspecies of Strymon columella in the 1998 Systematics book. It flies in "extreme southern California" and into Nye Co., Nevada, southern Arizona and into Baja California, Mexico (and possibly into mainland Mexico as well, the authors say). The type locality is Blythe. The flights are from early spring all the way to November. This hairstreak feeds on mallows in the larval stage. Malvella leprosa is mentioned in the description, but Gordon Pratt says it prefers Hibiscus denudatus in the desert, where it can use Sphaeralcea species as well. It's interesting that this isn't a more common butterfly given the host plants, which are common and fairly widespread; its presence in both coastal and desert climes; and the fact it is multiple-brooded. Their flight period seems to depend on the availability of healthy mallow food plants, which depends on rainfall patterns.

Details of the life cycle of this butterfly were described by John Comstock and Charles Dammers in a 1935 article in the Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences ("Notes on the Early Stages of Three Butterflies and Six Moths from California," v.34, pp.120-123). I've excerpted this part from the paper below - it's good stuff if you're interested in the life cycle.