Satyrium californica

California hairstreak
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Satyrium
Species:
S. californica
Binomial name
Satyrium californica
(Edwards, 1862)[1]
Synonyms
  • Thecla californica Edwards, 1862
  • Thecla borus Boisduval, 1868
  • Thecla cygnus Edwards, 1871
  • Satyrium californicum obscurafacies Austin, 1998

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]

Description

The 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

Adults 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

Listed 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

Wikispecies has information related to Satyrium californica.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Satyrium californica.
  1. ^ a b Satyrium, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ a b Butterflies and Moths of North America collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera
  3. ^ Brock, Jim P.; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Butterflies of North America. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin. pp. 98–99. ISBN 0-618-15312-8.
  4. ^ California Hairstreak, Butterflies of Canada
  5. ^ a b Shapiro, Art. "Satyrium californica | Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site". butterfly.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-02.


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