Satyrium californica, the California hairstreak, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from British Columbia south to southern California and east to Colorado.[2]
| California hairstreak | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Satyrium |
| Species: | S. californica
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| Binomial name | |
| Satyrium californica (Edwards, 1862)[1]
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editThe wingspan is 25–32 millimetres (0.98–1.26 in). Underside of wings are gray with band of black spots and band of orange markings near the margin. The hindwing has a pale blue spot with small or no orange cap, and two "tails." Upperside of wings are brown with orange markings near these tails on the hindwings.[2][3]
Behavior
editAdults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Eriogonum and Asclepias species. In Canada, the larvae feed on Cercocarpus, Salix species, buckbrush (Ceanothus spp.), antelope-brush (Purshia tridentata), oaks (Quercus spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.), and saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia).[4] In California, they are noted to feed on oaks, Apocynum cannabinum, Marrubium species, Ceanothus velutinus, California buckeye, milkweed, and other plants.[5]
Adults are active April to September, depending on region. They overwinter as eggs.[5]
Subspecies
editListed alphabetically.[1]
- S. c. brashor Kondla & Scott, 2006
- S. c. californica
- S. c. cygnus (Edwards, 1871)
- S. c. obscurafacies (Austin, 1998)
- S. c. wapiti Fisher, 2006
References
edit
- ^ a b Satyrium, Site of Markku Savela
- ^ a b Butterflies and Moths of North America collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera
- ^ Brock, Jim P.; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Butterflies of North America. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-618-15312-8.
- ^ California Hairstreak, Butterflies of Canada
- ^ a b Shapiro, Art. "Satyrium californica | Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site". butterfly.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-02.