The Butterflies of the World Foundation

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Satyrium favonius, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2007                                                                                      Ref #:  I-374-7

Satyrium favonius, captured by Jagged Ambush Bug, Phymata sp., Lake R. C. Longmire, Garvin County, Oklahoma, 17 May 2007                                           Ref #:  I-375-7.3

Satyrium favonius, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 3 June 2006                                                                                   Ref #:  I-354-6.1

Satyrium favonius, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2007                                                                                      Ref #:  I-374-6

Satyrium favonius, with possible predator strike illustrating false-head mimicry at work, one half mile south of Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 22 May 2006                                                                             Ref #:  I-349-11.2

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General Information:

Satyrium favonius belongs to the subfamily Theclinae.  It’s range includes the southeastern third of the U.S.  It is found in oak forests and edges.

Lifecycle:

The larval food plant for this species are oaks, Quercus sp.  Eggs are laid singly on host plant twigs and hatch the following spring. Caterpillars feed on leaves, buds, and male catkins.

Satyrium favonius, captured by crab spider, Pontotoc Ridge Preserve, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, 21 May 2011                                                              Ref #:  SP-200-9.1

Satyrium favonius, captured by crab spider, Pontotoc Ridge Preserve, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, 21 May 2011                                                                 Ref #:  SP-200-5

Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                Ref #:  N-11-18.3

Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                 Ref #:  N-12-10.1

Post Oak, Quercus stellata, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                                  Ref #:  N-12-14.2

Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma

                                                        Ref #:  N-11-7.1

Post Oak, Quercus stellata, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                                  Ref #:  N-11-11.2

Satyrium favonius, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2007                                                                                   Ref #:  I-374-4.1

Satyrium favonius, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2007                                                                                      Ref #:  I-374-3

Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                  Ref #:  N-17-15

Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                               Ref #:  N-16-17.3

Post Oak, Quercus stellata, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                                  Ref #:  N-15-6.2

Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica, a common larval food source, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                 Ref #:  N-17-4.7

Oak Hairstreak

Satyrium favonius, J. E. Smith 1797

Subfamily Theclinae

Tribe Eumaeini

Taxonomy

The family Lycaenidae is a large and varied worldwide group that has 4,000 to 6,000 species depending on the ever-changing taxonomic flux.  They are collectively called Gossamer Butterflies or Gossamer Wings.  The family is further divided into eight subfamilies.  The first is the Theclinae which includes the Hairstreaks, Sunstreaks, Elfins and others.  The second is the Polyommatinae which includes the Blues, Azures, Arguses, Caeruleans and others.  The third subfamily is the Lycaeninae which includes the Coppers, Sapphires, Silverlines and others.  The forth is the Poritiinae which includes the gems.  The fifth is the Miletinae which includes the Brownies, Harvesters, Darkies, Apeflies and others.  The sixth is the Curetinae which includes the Sunbeams.  The seventh family is the Lipteninae which includes about 500 tropical rainforest gossamer wings.  The eighth and final subfamily is the Liphyrinae and includes the Moth Butterflies.

Satyrium favonius, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 26 May 2006                                                                                      Ref #:  I-353-7

Satyrium favonius, Pontotoc Ridge Preserve, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, 19 May 2012

                                                                                                 Ref #:  I-518-1