Coral Hairstreak - Satyrium titus

Coral Hairstreak - Satyrium titus
Order: Lepidoptera / Superfamily: Papilionoidea / Family: Lycaenidae (Gossamer Winged Butterflies) Subfamily: Theclinae (Hairstreaks)
Live adult butterfly photographed at West Chicago Prairie, DuPage County IL on June 18, 2005.
Bugguide.net reference: Coral Hairstreak / Berkeley Digital Library Reference: Coral Hairstreak

		Reference: Banded Hairstreak
Coral Hairstreak - Satyrium titus
The Coral Hirstreak is one of a dozen or so very similar butterflies. This is the only hairstreak with that row of coral-colored spots without tails. Life Cycle: Eggs overwinter. Ctaerpillar covered with fine silken hairs, yellow-green underneath, feeds on wild cherry, plum, and serviceberry. One brood, usually July. Habitat: Meadows and fields, roadsides, brushy clearings. I found this specimen nectaring on Milkweed, near the West Branch of the DuPage River in Northern Illinois. These butterflies are quite rare here. Similar species: Edward's Hairstreak, Hickory Hiarstreak, California Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak and Banded Hairstreak.