California Hairstreak
Satyrium californica (W.H. Edwards, 1862)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Each hindwing has 1 long and 1 short tail. Upperside brown with orange spot on hindwing near tails. Outer edge of forewing usually has row of orange spots. Underside brown-gray with orange submarginal crescents and a postmedian band of black spots.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males search for females by perching on top of trees (occasionally patrolling). Females lay eggs, glued together in groups of 2-4, in bark crevices. Eggs hibernate until the following spring. Caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Amelanchier alnifolia, Prunus virginiana; Cercocarpus, Ceanothus, Quercus, and Salix species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of wild buckwheat, milkweed, sulphur flower, and others.
Habitat: Chaparral, brushland, forest edges, open woodland.
Range: British Columbia south to southern California and east to Colorado.
Conservation: Valley oak-associated population in California\'s central valley is threatened by loss of habitat.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Conserve remaining stands of Valley oak in California Central Valley.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Satyrium californicum
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 404 verified sightings
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 02, 2025
Observation date: May 23, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: May 18, 2025
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 1987
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 09, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: Paul C. Agidius
Region: Latah County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 10, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: CFreeman
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 01, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 04, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: gasigr
Region: Lake County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: gasigr
Region: Lake County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 22, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 08, 2021
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
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