-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Gossamer-winged Butterflies (Family Lycaenidae)

-Hairstreaks (Subfamily Theclinae)

-Tribe Eumaeini

-Subtribe Strephonotina

-Genus Gargina

-Thoria Hairstreak (Gargina thoria)

The Thoria Hairstreak (Gargina thoria) is a small, modestly colored butterfly in the hairstreak group (Lycaenidae) that occurs from Mexico through Central America and into northern South America. The butterfly has dark brown upper wings and a patterned grayish-brown underside with fine pale lines, with the characteristic tiny tail-like extensions on the hindwings common to hairstreaks, which help mimic false “heads” to confuse predators. It tends to be cryptic and small, flying low in shaded woodlands and resting with its wings closed, making it subtle and easy to overlook unless closely observed.