Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Gold-hunter's Hairstreak
Satyrium auretorum (Boisduval, 1852)


Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Hindwing with 1 short tail. Upperside of male light reddish-brown; female with yellowish tinge. Underside of hindwing with dark crescents near outer margin. Spot near tail is dull orange with a black center.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on top of trees and sometimes patrol for females. Eggs are laid singly on stems and hibernate until spring. Caterpillars feed on tender young leaves.
Flight: One flight from May-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of oak (Quercus).
Adult Food: Flower nectar including milkweeds.
Habitat: Oak hillsides and chaparral.
Range: California west of the Sierra Nevada, Transverse Range, and deserts, from Mendocino County south to San Diego County and into Baja California Norte.
Conservation: The Santa Monica Mountains Hairstreak (subspecies fumosum) is highly localized and threatened by urbanization in southern California.
NCGR:
Management Needs: Protect habitat of remaining colonies of subspecies fumosum.
Comments: NULL
Get your BAMONA Gear!

Hoodies and t-shirts in two designs!


Advertise with us!

Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.