Golden Hairstreak
Habrodais grunus (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Short tail on hindwing. Upperside of male dark brown with yellow tinge in cell area of forewing; female not as dark. Underside yellow brown with a narrow, dark postmarginal line; hindwing has thin gold crescents at margin, of which the last two are iridescent.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol tree canopy for receptive females. Eggs are laid on twigs of host trees. After hibernating through the winter, eggs hatch and the caterpillars feed on young leaves.
Flight: One flight from June-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of oak relatives including canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis), huckleberry oak (Q. vaccinifolia), and tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus).
Adult Food: Adults do not seek flower nectar but search out moisture sources and possibly aphid honeydew or other exudates.
Habitat: Oak woodland, canyons, mountain ridges.
Range: Southern Arizona, Oregon, and California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 242 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 16, 1983
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 06, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2023
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Del Norte County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Clackamas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Hood River County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 25, 2012
Submitted by: evilrobot42
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 26, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: skcoberly
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
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