Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Disclaimer: This material is being kept online for historical purposes. Content is no longer being updated and may contain broken links.


Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Lycaenidae

     Satyrium tetra
     Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread 1-1.25 in.
Recognition: Gray to brown; tailed (short on male).
Flight period: Adults are active from June to early August.
Hostplants: The larvae feed on Mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides), an evergreen shrub in Rosaceae.
Habitat: They are found in scrubby foothill and mountain areas, especially where Mountain-mahoganies are present. Also a frequenter of wild buckwheat flowers (Eriogonum fasciculatum).
Distribution: They are found from southern Oregon south, through western California. They are present in the foothill forests of southern California.

previous species                     Family list     Lycaenidae                     next species

© Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History