Erora laeta
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
Erora laeta, the early hairstreak, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in eastern Canada and the United States. The habitat consists of deciduous and mixed woods. The wingspan is 21–24 mm. The larvae are associated with American beech (Fagus grandifolia), and possibly also beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta). They feed on the leaves and fruits of their host plant. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Early Hairstreak sighting in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 363rd most-seen of the 723 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report an Early Hairstreak in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June and August–March, the lowest months.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Early Hairstreak sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Early Hairstreak sightings, Shenandoah National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Lycaenidae
The closest relatives of the Early Hairstreak that you can see in Shenandoah National Park (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are Elkalyce comyntas (about 20%), American Copper (about 20%) and Cyaniris neglecta (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Early Hairstreak is recorded against all the insects logged in Shenandoah National Park (11 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
