The Oak Hairstreak is a very small butterfly that is rarely seen with its wings open. It can be identified by two slender tails on each hindwing and grayish brown undersides marked with a blue spot near the tails and orange shading above. A distinct black “W” edged in white sits near the inner margin of the hindwing. The upperside of the wings is brown with a small orange spot near the tails, but no blue is present. Males have a dark scent patch on the forewing.

 

“Oak Hairstreak – Satyrium favonius” by Christina Butler, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Oak Hairstreak Facts

Butterfly Family: Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Theclinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 7/8 – 1 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Oak woodlands and edges, oak hammocks in the Deep South

 

🪴Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Black Oak (Quercus velutina)

• Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

• Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata)

• White Oak (Quercus alba)

• Other native oaks (Quercus spp.)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Oak Hairstreak butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Beebalm (Monarda fistulosa)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

• Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)