Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Lycaenidae

     Satyrium californica
     California Hairstreak


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread .8- 1.25 in.
Recognition: Gray-brown with orange marks on lower HW tips, which can also be on the FW; underside is light gray with spots and orange markings on lower HW; tailed.
Flight period: Adults are active from June to early August.
Hostplants: The larvae feed on oaks (Quercus species), along with mountain mahoganies, plums, deer brush (Ceanothus species), juneberries, and willows.
Habitat: They can be found in scrubby foothill and mountain areas.
Distribution: They range from southern British Columbia south to northern Baja, including much of California, and east into Utah and Colorado. Look for them in the higher mountain areas of Santa Barbara County.

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