King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284
Satyrium kingi
This record describes Satyrium kingi (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
There does not seem to be much information available about H.L. King. He appears to have been an amateur lepidopterist, but I have been unable to find any biographical information. The original species description is clear that King lived in Sarasota, Florida, but collected the type specimen near Savannah, Georgia. Here is the relevant text: --Patrick Coin (a.k.a. Cotinis)
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
- Subfamily
- Theclinae
- Tribe
- Eumaeini
- Genus
- Satyrium
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Local and rare in the southeastern United States, from Texas to Delaware.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on leaves of Sweetleaf ( Symplocos tinctoria ) . Adults take nectar.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named for the collector of the type specimen, H.L. King (Klots and Clench, 1952).
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Satyrium kingi. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Will Cook; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , Nick Block , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284
What is King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284?
King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284 (Satyrium kingi) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284 found?
Range: Local and rare in the southeastern United States, from Texas to Delaware.
What does King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284 eat?
The diet of the King's Hairstreak - Hodges#4284 includes Larvae feed on leaves of Sweetleaf ( Symplocos tinctoria ) . Adults take nectar..