Species Satyrium titus - Coral Hairstreak - Hodges#4275

4275

Wingspan 2.5-3.8 cm

A medium-sized gray-brown hairstreak with no tails; a row of orange/red submarginal marks along the outer margins of under hind wings, and less prominently the front wings.

Only likely to be confused with Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadicum), which can look quite similar when its hind wing tails are lost. That species is less brownish gray, has a prominent large blue "thecla spot" near the hind angle of the lower hind wing, the dark bars at the ends of the discal cell on all wings is more prominent. Acadian Hairstreak is associated closely with its larval host plant, Willows (Salix species).

Similarly patterned female Blues will typically show orange submarginal markings both above and below, will usually be whitish to gray below, will have prominent dark markings in the discal cells of the wings below, and will generally be noticeably smaller in size. Usually there will be distinct blue coloring on the upper side of the wings, or at least some evidence of blue coloring on the body and near the base of the wings.

Much of North America, including northern 2/3 of continental United States and southern Canada.

Old fields/meadows with hostplants & nectar sources.

May-August (one brood). In Piedmont region of North Carolina, found mostly in June.

Larvae feed on Plum and Cherry (Prunus species; family Rosaceae), primarily on native shrubby species.

Adults take nectar from many sources. They are particularly fond of Butterfly Weed--Asclepias tuberosa.

Glassberg (1)

Brock (2)

Scott (3)

Butterflies and Skippers of North America