Satyrium tetra

Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak

Satyrium tetra is a handsome hairstreak found in close association with Cercocarpus betuloides (mountain mahogany), its larval food plant. Females attach eggs to the leaves and stems, and first instar caterpillars stay in the egg through the winter. They emerge in spring to feed, then pupate on their host shrub or tree. Pupation takes about three weeks, and adults typically emerge to fly in June and July. There is just a single brood. Depending on location, caterpillars can be looked for as early as April or as late as late June. Their apple green color highlighted with orange-red hairs makes them easy to identify.