Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1
Satyrium semiluna
This record describes Satyrium semiluna (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Tailless, dorsal drab gray, underwing grayish to brown, with the FW usually having a line of dark dots circled in white, and the HW can have some whitish dots. Distinction from S. fuliginosum as a distinct species is debated, and needs further study in potential zones of contact. Distinguished from that species by the presence (sometimes faint) of a stigma or sex brand on the upper front wing of the males, and by distribution. Zone of contact should be near the east base of the Sierra Nevada and northward across southwestern Oregon.
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
Open, usually exposed areas in association with Lupines ( Lupinus species) and usually also with Sagebrush ( Artemisia species).
Geographic Range
Wyoming and Colorado, west to east-central California, and north to British Columbia.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Lupines ( Lupinus species)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Latin for "half-moon"
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Satyrium semiluna. 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 Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Chuck Entz , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1
What is Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1?
Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1 (Satyrium semiluna) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1?
Tailless, dorsal drab gray, underwing grayish to brown, with the FW usually having a line of dark dots circled in white, and the HW can have some whitish dots. Distinction from S. fuliginosum as a distinct species is debated, and needs further study in potential zones of contact. Distinguished from that species by the presence (sometimes faint) of a stigma or sex brand on the upper front wing of the males, and by distribution. Zone of contact should be near the east base of the Sierra Nevada and northward across southwestern Oregon.
Where is Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Open, usually exposed areas in association with Lupines ( Lupinus species) and usually also with Sagebrush ( Artemisia species). |
| Range | Wyoming and Colorado, west to east-central California, and north to British Columbia. |
What does Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1 eat?
The diet of the Sagebrush Sooty Hairstreak - Hodges#4277.1 includes Lupines ( Lupinus species).