Satyrium californica

Satyrium californica, the California hairstreak, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from British Columbia south to southern California and east to Colorado.

Description

The wingspan is. Underside of wings are gray with band of black spots and band of orange markings near the margin. The hindwing has a pale blue spot with small or no orange cap, and two "tails." Upperside of wings are brown with orange markings near these tails on the hindwings.

Behavior

Adults feed on the nectar of various flowers, including Eriogonum and Asclepias species. In Canada, the larvae feed on Cercocarpus, Salix species, buckbrush, antelope-brush, oaks, cherry, and saskatoon . In California, they are noted to feed on oaks, Apocynum cannabinum, Marrubium species, Ceanothus velutinus'', California buckeye, milkweed, and other plants.
Adults are active April to September, depending on region. They overwinter as eggs.

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically.

S. c. brashor Kondla & Scott, 2006
S. c. californica
S. c. cygnus
S. c. obscurafacies
S. c. wapiti Fisher, 2006