Habrodais grunus grunus

Golden Hairstreak

Look for this golden hairstreak around their host oak trees in the summer months. If you get a good look, note the metallic edging of the lunules near the tail. One way this hairstreak differs from many others in its habitat is its ocassional willingness to open its wings. This reveals an orange-brown transition on the forewing that is a nice complement to the underside, especially in fresh individuals. This is a handsome little butterfly.

Golden hairstreaks use canyon live oaks - Quercus chrysolepis - as their larval food plant. They don't seem to stray far from these trees. As with Satyrium genus hairstreaks, the egg is the hibernation stage. Larvae emerge in the spring to feed on tender new leaves. Adults generally are found in June and July.

Habrodais grunus grunus - Golden Hairstreak
A golden hairstreak, Habrodais grunus grunus, at Icehouse Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains. July 4, 2012.
Habrodais grunus grunus - Golden Hairstreak
Another golden hairstreak, Habrodais grunus grunus, from Big Bear on host Oak. June 27, 2006.
Callophrys loki - 'Loki' Juniper Hairstreak
The golden hairstreak as more often seen: perching with wings folded. Mt Waterman Trail in the San Gabriels, June 25, 2006.
Habrodais grunus grunus - Golden Hairstreak
Another one on the Mt Waterman Trail, June 25, 2006.
Original description of Habrodais grunus grunus - Golden Hairstreak
This is another butterfly sent by Lorquin to Boisduval in Paris to be described in an 1852 article on California butterflies in the Annales de la Société entomologique de France.

©Dennis Walker