About Thecla marius Lucas, 1857
Rekoa marius, commonly known as the Marius hairstreak, is a butterfly species that belongs to the family Lycaenidae. Its distribution ranges from Paraguay northward to Sonora, Mexico. Stray individuals may be found as far north as southern Texas, and the species was historically considered rare in this area. It is the only Rekoa species that occurs in Arizona. Its habitat is made up of disturbed tropical areas. The wingspan of this butterfly measures 22 to 32 mm. The upperside of male individuals is dark iridescent blue, while females have gray coloration. There is an orange eyespot near the tail on the hindwing. In Mexico, adult Marius hairstreaks are probably active on the wing year-round. In southern Texas, adults have a single flight period, occurring from September to December. Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar. The larvae feed on a variety of host plants, including legumes and malpighias.
