Status:  fairly common resident

Flights:  1, May-Oct


Distribution/known sites in Monterey County:  Santa Lucia slopes and canyons; upper Tassajara Rd., Pine Ridge trail


Habitats:  dry slopes in chaparral, foothill and lower mountain canyons

Host plants: canyon oak, chinquapin, tan oak

Adult food:  visits moisture sources, possibly aphid honeydew and other exudates, not flowers


Conservation:  none needed


Remarks: 

  1. •  our ssp. H. g. lorquini, Lorquin’s Hairstreak

  2. •  often crepuscular, best found perching on food plant

  3. •  adults shun flowers, congregate in large numbers on host plant, look like dried leaf

  4. •  adults estivate in summer, re-emerge to lay eggs in fall

  5. •  food source during estivation unknown

  6. •  formerly Boisduval’s hairstreak, canyon oak hairstreak

  7. •  sexes similar, male darker

 
 

Golden hairstreak Habrodais grunus

 

Life history facts


egg: laid on twigs of host trees, hibernates thru winter

larva: feed on young leaves

pupa:

adult:  males active early a.m., late p.m., rest on banks and tree trunks, patrol canopy for females

perched on canyon oak