Golden Hairstreak
Habrodais grunus (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Short tail on hindwing. Upperside of male dark brown with yellow tinge in cell area of forewing; female not as dark. Underside yellow brown with a narrow, dark postmarginal line; hindwing has thin gold crescents at margin, of which the last two are iridescent.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol tree canopy for receptive females. Eggs are laid on twigs of host trees. After hibernating through the winter, eggs hatch and the caterpillars feed on young leaves.
Flight: One flight from June-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leaves of oak relatives including canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis), huckleberry oak (Q. vaccinifolia), and tan oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus).
Adult Food: Adults do not seek flower nectar but search out moisture sources and possibly aphid honeydew or other exudates.
Habitat: Oak woodland, canyons, mountain ridges.
Range: Southern Arizona, Oregon, and California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 241 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8706.jpeg?itok=d2WHuneW)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/golden-hairstreak-1.jpeg?itok=tm--Cd15)
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1330418_0.jpg?itok=ha2aF0BZ)
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1290783.jpg?itok=XwrQ3Xy0)
Observation date: Aug 06, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/golden_hairstreak_botanical_trail_ca_smith_river_nat.rec_.area_7_aug._2023.jpg?itok=ZFSpWWk6)
Observation date: Aug 07, 2023
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Del Norte County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2244_2.jpeg?itok=nLpv1NSU)
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/habrodais_grunus1.jpeg?itok=IAOhUuBU)
Observation date: Jul 27, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/h._grunus.jpeg?itok=2qC8i9sX)
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/_dsc3157_gohs.jpg?itok=QyyrsZ6c)
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Clackamas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/golden_hairstreak_nectaring_on_fireweed_dsc5905.jpg?itok=OaPfSPbo)
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Hood River County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/brown_butterfly.jpg?itok=BkN3Lz0n)
Observation date: Jun 25, 2012
Submitted by: evilrobot42
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 01, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4364_copyrighted.jpg?itok=G8ssypYZ)
Observation date: Jun 21, 2022
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1000389.jpeg?itok=oO-Urt9L)
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/_d859265-edit.jpg?itok=mjdDrK18)
Observation date: Jul 23, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_27691.jpeg?itok=BzAwDfy4)
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2405.jpeg?itok=O9DdVmGu)
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/golden_hairstreak_1_maki_0.jpg?itok=DwkEF2FU)
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4130.jpeg?itok=LEz1f-xC)
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/1s7a3317.jpg?itok=NAnjxev2)
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/goldenhairstreakmaki_preston_peak_trail.jpg?itok=WZpxifxp)
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 26, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/golden_hairstreak_img_9467.jpg?itok=JW0pcUuG)
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/2020-07-28_golden_hairstreak_egg_laying_at_montebello_img_9532.jpg?itok=O8R0XkhJ)
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 30, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/oak_butterfly.jpg?itok=UYu4wvOc)
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: skcoberly
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_5080.jpeg?itok=lyDm5Jrd)
Observation date: Jul 03, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
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