Acadian hairstreak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acadian hairstreak |
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The Acadian hairstreak (scientific name: Satyrium acadica) is a type of butterfly that belongs to the Lycaenidae family. These butterflies are known for their small size and often have tiny, hair-like tails on their hindwings.
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Where Do Acadian Hairstreaks Live?
You can find the Acadian hairstreak across a large part of North America. They live from British Columbia in the west, all the way east to Nova Scotia in Canada. In the United States, they are found as far south as Idaho, Colorado, the northern Midwest states, Maryland, and New Jersey.
What Does This Butterfly Look Like?
The Acadian hairstreak is a medium-sized butterfly. Its wingspan is usually between 29 and 38 millimeters (about 1.1 to 1.5 inches). A cool feature of this butterfly is that it has one small "tail" on each of its hindwings. These tails can sometimes trick predators into attacking the wrong end of the butterfly!
The top side of its wings is a brownish-grey color. If you look at the underside of its hindwings, they are grey.
Life Cycle of the Acadian Hairstreak
Acadian hairstreak butterflies usually fly around from June to August. They have one generation of butterflies each year.
What Do They Eat?
Adult Acadian hairstreaks are busy visiting many different types of flowers. They use their long tongues to drink nectar from these flowers.
What About the Caterpillars?
The young butterflies, called larvae or caterpillars, have a different diet. They munch on the leaves of willow trees. Some of their favorite willow species include the black willow (S. nigra) and the silky willow (S. sericea).
How Do They Survive Winter?
When winter comes, the Acadian hairstreak survives as an egg. The eggs are laid in the fall and then hatch in the spring when the weather gets warmer.
Different Types of Acadian Hairstreaks
Scientists have identified a few different types, or subspecies, of the Acadian hairstreak:
- Satyrium acadica acadica
- Satyrium acadica coolinense (Watson & Comstock, 1920)
- Satyrium acadica montanense (Watson & Comstock, 1920)
- Satyrium acadica watrini (Dufrane, 1939)
