Sylvan Hairstreak
Satyrium sylvinus (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: With or without tails. Upperside gray-brown or reddish with blue sheen; hindwing with small orange patch at lower edge. Female with yellowish tinge. Underside pale gray to white. Postmarginal band of small black dots; some individuals may have only a few spots. Yellow to red spot at hindwing lower edge.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 3/8 inches (2.5 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males perch on low vegetation near host plants to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on stems of host plants where they hibernate until spring. Caterpillars feed on leaves.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various willow (Salix) species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including milkweed and Indian hemp.
Habitat: Willow thickets, open woodlands, streams, oases.
Range: British Columbia southeast to Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico; south through California to Baja California Norte.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Satyrium sylvinum
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 558 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 04, 1983
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 31, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 16, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2024
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: shuckabone
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 21, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 29, 2023
Observation date: Aug 04, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: Kirsten Mills
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
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