The Eastern Pine Elfin is a beautiful small hairstreak with intricately patterned, scalloped brown-and-cream wings below that provide exceptional camouflage on pine bark. It is strictly associated with young pines, and adults spend much of their time in the tops of pitch and scrub pines. It is a single-brooded spring species that is most easily seen visiting flowers along pine-edged paths.
Best time to see a Eastern Pine Elfin
The best time to see a Eastern Pine Elfin is May, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 3,073 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Eastern Pine Elfin? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Eastern Pine Elfin sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Eastern Pine Elfin? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Eastern Pine Elfin is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love insects & arthropods? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.