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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 366 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2019
Observation date: May 16, 2019
Submitted by: ASHLEY SMITH
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
Observation date: Jun 18, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 16, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 19, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2019
Submitted by: Scott Burgess
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2019
Observation date: Jun 11, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 14, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 26, 2018
Observation date: Jul 06, 2018
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2018
Observation date: Jul 02, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2018
Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 04, 2018
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2018
Observation date: Jun 01, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 01, 2018
Observation date: May 29, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 30, 2018
Observation date: May 19, 2017
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Stanislaus County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 08, 2017
Observation date: Jul 30, 2016
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 10, 2017
Observation date: Jun 23, 2016
Submitted by: Bdog
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2016
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: Josiah Gilbert
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 25, 2015
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