We all know the old saying, “Good things come in small packages”, and at least in certain cases that is quite true. That definitely seems to hold true for the grey hairstreak butterfly (Strymon melinus), one of the many butterflies that are loving all the wildflowers we have right now. These guys are quite small, being only about a half inch long, but have some beautiful, colorful markings. There are a number of hairstreaks that live in this area, but the grey hairstreak is probably the most common one. I really enjoy getting out the macro lens and getting photos of these guys. I’ve been able to identify several different species, but I have to admit, I always need some help to make the ID since they all look very similar. This one was feeding in the blackberry flowers that grow behind my house. Keep up the good work little pollinators. Before long we’ll have a bumper crop of delicious berries.