Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Satyrium calanus (
Hübner, [1809])
The subspecies falacer was once considered a separate species
Identification
Adult: underwing gray, submarginal bands narrow, edged white outwardly. Two tails, one short, one medium long. Blue patch not capped with orange, and doesn't extend much beyond orange spots.
Can be quite variable.
Larva: body light green (turns brown just before pupating) with alternating light and dark oblique dashes on the sides
Range
Rockies, east (NM-FL-QC-MT) -
Map (MPG)
Habitat
woodlands, edges, roadsides, open areas near their foodsource and nectar plants
Season
adults fly in April and May in Florida; June to August in the north; most common in July
Food
Larvae feed on leaves of oaks, walnuts, maples, chestnut and hickory. In Canada, most common on Butternut (Juglans cinerea). They eat catkins, and then young leaves.
Life Cycle
One brood per year; overwinters as an egg.
1. Larva. 2. Prepupal larva. 3. Pupa. 4. Adult
Remarks
Around Ottawa, eggs are placed on Butternut so consistently at the base of buds on the previous year's growth that it is not difficult to find them, even during the winter. Egg hatching is synchronized precisely with the opening of the buds to ensure the newly hatched larvae only have to move a few millimetres to reach the new leaflets.
[adapted from text at Butterflies of Canada]
Internet References
live images of adult, larva, pupa plus description, distribution, similar species, biology, flight season, foodplants, remarks (Butterflies of Canada, CIBF)