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Species Detail
Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak
Satyrium tetra (W.H. Edwards, 1870)
Attributes of Satyrium tetraFamily: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae) Subfamily: Hairstreaks (Theclinae) Identification: One short hindwing tail on males, long tail on female hindwing; may be missing. Upperside brown-gray. Underside is olive-gray with ashy overlay. Postmedian line white; sometimes faint or absent. Spot near tail is gray-blue. Life history: Males perch on hilltop shrubs or valley host plants to watch for females. Eggs are laid on twigs or leaves, singly or in small groups. Eggs hibernate until spring; caterpillars eat leaves. Flight: One flight from June-July. Wing span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) in the rose family (Rosaceae). Adult food: Nectar from wild buckwheat and others. Habitat: Mixed woodlands, chaparral. Range: Southern Oregon and California west of the deserts through San Diego County into Baja California Norte; in the Carson Range of western Nevada. Conservation: Not usually required. NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: None reported. | Documented Records for Satyrium tetra
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