This small butterfly is in my garden today. She shifted her wings a bit and it looks like there is blue on the top wings (but not the brilliant blue of the Lasaia sula) at least on the outer edges...that was the only view i got of the top wings. She posed for this ventral view and after that i wanted to leave her in peace to enjoy the asclepias nectar. Perhaps a metalmark of some kind? or? anybody? Thank you :)
My initial reaction was one of those western /southwestern blues but the spot bands and other markings make me consider Tailless scrub hairstreak (Strymon cestri).
Boldly mottled white, gray and brown below. Has a brown postmedian band and an obvious round brown spot at the leading margin. According to this description in "Kaufman's Field Guide to Butterflies of North America". This butterfly is reported as a rare visitor to southern Texas and Arizona.
My novice identification is based upon guide description and not direct sighting or experience for what it is worth.
Thank you shorthog. The photo in my guide to butterflies of Mexico and Central America looks very much the same (right down to the orange club ends) and also shows a blue outer wing so i think it is a Strymon cestri as you suggest. Wow, needle in a haystack, right? At least for me. I will look on the internet for more photos of this S. cestri to confirm (after the sun goes down) and then i'll mark this as solved.
