The Colorado hairstreak (Hypaurotis crysalus) is a montane butterfly native to oak scrubland in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Each wing has orange spots at the lower outer edge, and each hindwing has a thin hairlike tail.
The lower side of the wings is pale to dark gray with white and dark markings, an orange patch on the margin of each forewing, and an orange spot with a black center on the hindwing near the tail.
This species depends upon the Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii), which is both the favorite roost of adults and usual food source for caterpillars.
Adults feed on tree sap and probably honeydew secreted by other insects rather than on flowers.