Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333
Satyrium polingi
This record describes Satyrium polingi (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Hindwing | Hindwing fringe is dark. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing blue spot without orange cap or capped narrowly with orange. Strong W on hindwing post median band or described as black-edged white W near inner margin. Two tails on each hindwing. Dorsal side is dull-gray brown. |
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
Habitat
Oak woodlands
Geographic Range
s.NM & w.TX to ne.Mexico. Big Bend NP & Guadalupe Mountains NP
Seasonal Activity
Two flights: May‒Jun, Aug‒Sep
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on the leaves, buds, and male catkins of Quercus emoryi and gray oak.
Life History
Eggs laid singly on host plant twigs and hatch the following spring. Caterpillars feed on leaves, buds, and male catkins
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Satyrium polingi (Barnes & Benjamin 1926)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Satyrium polingi. 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 Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by R; Additional contributions by v belov
Frequently Asked Questions About Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333
What is Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333?
Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333 (Satyrium polingi) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333?
WS 25‒30 mm
How do you identify Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Hindwing | Hindwing fringe is dark. |
| Hindwing | Hindwing blue spot without orange cap or capped narrowly with orange. Strong W on hindwing post median band or described as black-edged white W near inner margin. Two tails on each hindwing. Dorsal side is dull-gray brown. |
Where is Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Oak woodlands |
| Range | s.NM & w.TX to ne.Mexico. Big Bend NP & Guadalupe Mountains NP |
What does Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333 eat?
The diet of the Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333 includes larvae feed on the leaves, buds, and male catkins of Quercus emoryi and gray oak..
When is Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333 active?
Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333: seasonal activity - Two flights: May‒Jun, Aug‒Sep.
What is the life cycle of a Poling's Hairstreak - Hodges#4333?
Eggs laid singly on host plant twigs and hatch the following spring. Caterpillars feed on leaves, buds, and male catkins