early fall to winter, ovipositing females preferentially target isolated mistletoe plants that have trunks of a smaller diameter to lay their eggs on, which is likely to minimize competition from other ovipositing butterflies. The great purple hairstreak has various natural enemies including parasitoid wasps, the species being Apanteles sp. as well as Metadontia amoena.'' References External links Great purple hairstreak, Butterflies of North Carolina Online Many beautiful images of this species Very detailed rearing project Life cycle video on YouTube Eumaeini Butterflies of North America Butterflies described in 1777