Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus [Fabricius])
Wing span: 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm).
Identification: No tails. Upperside dark brown. Underside of hindwing light brown with row of coral spots at margin, and postmedian row of black spots ringed with white.
Life history: Males perch on shrubs, especially in late afternoon, to watch for females. Females lay eggs singly on host twigs or in litter at base of plant. Eggs hibernate. Caterpillars hide in litter during the day and emerge at night to feed on leaves and fruits.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Caterpillar hosts: Wild cherry, wild plum, and chokecherry (Prunus species) in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult food: Nectar from flowers including butterflyweed, New Jersey tea, dogbane, and sulphur flower.
Habitat: Shrubby areas, brushlands, openings in woodlands, neglected pastures, streamsides, barrens, chaparral, and brushlands.
Range: Central Canada south to eastern California; east across southern Canada to New England; south to central New Mexico, central Texas, northern Arkansas, and central Georgia.
