Gold-hunters Hairstreak

Satyrium auretorum spadix

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

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Characteristics: Male--DW dark brown; female -- lighter brown with a yellow-brown suffusion in the center of DFW (Emmel and Emmel, 1973) VW brown with few other markings. Forewing length: 13-15 mm.

Similar Species: Satyrium tetra looks much like this species, but tetra usually possesses more of a gray hue on the DW than spadix. The Spadix Hairstreak is dark or light brown on the DW. The VW color of spadix is also of a lighter brown than that of tetra.

Habitats, Behavior: This scarce species is said to be highly attracted to milkweed blossoms (Emmel and Emmel 1973). I have often seen it nectaring at buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.) in the Tehachapi Mountains and Mt. Pinos region of Kern County.

Distribution: Recent records corne from John Cooper, Ron Vanderhoff, and Jack Levy. Cooper mentions taking specimens on several occasions in Silverado Canyon, about one mile past the Silverado Historical Monument on National Forest Road 5S16, always in June.

Flight Period: One brood, on the wing from mid-June to late July. One record from Silverado Canyon is from mid-May.

Larval Foodplant: Quercus dumosa (Scrub Oak) and possibly Quercus wislizenii, both of which occur rather commonly in the Santa Ana Mountains, are utilized by the larvae.

Other Remarks:Other Remarks: The peak flight period probably occurs dur ing July when much of our local mountain area is closed due to extreme fire danger. This may account for the scarcity of records from Orange County. Also, colonies of this butterfly are often rather localized, so if one is not at the right place at the right time, the butterfly probably will not be seen.

From Orsak, L. J. (1977). The Butterflies of Orange County, California. Center for Pathobiology Miscellaneous Publication #3. University of California Press, New York. 349pp.

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