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:
• our ssp. H. g. lorquini, Lorquin’s Hairstreak
• often crepuscular, best found perching on food plant
• adults shun flowers, congregate in large numbers on host plant, look like dried leaf
• adults estivate in summer, re-emerge to lay eggs in fall
• food source during estivation unknown
• formerly Boisduval’s hairstreak, canyon oak hairstreak
• 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