Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Oak Hairstreak,
Satyrium favonius

Size: Wingspan is 1 to 1 1/4 inch.

Similar Species:
White-M Hairstreak

Habitat: Likes dry woodland edges, scrub oak forests and powerlines cuts. Several oaks are the host plant for this species.

Abundance: Rare to uncommon in maritime forests. And very rare in the piedmont

Flight Period: Flies from mid May until mid June.

Comments: The above Oak Hairstreak (formally Southern Hairstreak)I found in the Caswell Gamelands on May 26, 2000 It was a new county record and lifer for me. I wasn't thinking when I saw it as it was very hot and humid and I was dripping with sweat. So I assumed it was an White-M Hairstreak and took a photo of it just in case I was wrong. This Southern Hairstreak would be considered a very rare sighting in Caswell County. I found it on Dogbane along highway 62.

The bottom photo was taken on dogbane in Bedford Co., VA on June 17, 2001

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Butterflies

Satyrium favonius ontario
Male