Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Lycaenidae

     Satyrium auretorum
     Gold-hunter's Hairstreak


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread .8- 1 in.
Recognition: Tan to dark brown; male is dark brown with short tail; female is brown with tanish area in FW center.
Flight period: The adults are active from mid May to August.
Hosplants: The larvae of this Hairstreak feeds on oaks, Nuttall's Scrub Oak (Quercus dumosa) in particular.
Habitat: They are mostly found in oak forests throughout foothills and mountains, wherever Quercus dumosa is present.
Distribution: Can be found over much of western California. In southern California, areas such as Cajon Pass (Los Angelos County) have a large population of Gold-Hunter's Hairstreak because Quercus dumosa is common there.

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