Strymon limenia, Disguised Scrub-Hairstreak.

The Strymon limenia is just over 1” to 1 ½” wide. It is primarily grey with a few markings and a tiny tail on its hind wing. Creative Commons images are shown here of the butterfly and its primary nectar plants.

This butterfly’s range includes the Caribbean and “North America”. All of the ninety-year-old pinned specimens found were either from Haiti or Cuba. One might guess that an occasional stray makes it to the gulf states.

Plant an Abutilon if you see a Strymon limenia – Abutilon fruticosum is native to Texas, and Abutilon hirtum and theophrasti are native to the Florida Keys.

Bidens pilosa is very beloved by many butterflies – 35 in all – so is a good one to plant.

Hibiscus attracts 23 butterflies including the Strymon limenia so it would be a good one to plant as well. There are numerous Hibiscus native or naturalized in both Florida and Texas. If you are in Florida you might try Hibiscus moscheutos, rosa-sinensis, or trionum. If in Texas try Hibiscus moscheutos, syriacus, or trionum.

It is interesting to note the similarities in the flower structure of Abutilon and Hibiscus. This similarity demonstrates the tendency of butterflies to feed on plants with comparable floral structures.