Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius, Fixsenia favonius)

The Oak Hairstreak has many names depending on whose taxonomy you follow and which book you read. It is commonly placed in the genus Satyrium as well as Fixsenia, and some older references place it in Euristrymon. Its common names include Southern Hairstreak (which is now mostly used for the subspecies S. favonius favonius), Northern Hairstreak (S. favonius ontario), and Oak Hairstreak. Rare throughout NC except locally common along the lower immediate coast, this species is single brooded, flying in late Spring.

Variably patterned, some individuals show a white mark near the leading edge of the underhindwing (~1/3 of the distance from the body to the outer edge of the wing), while others lack this mark. The amount of orange along the outer edge of the underhindwing is quite variable as well as the amount of orange on the "cap" of the blue thecla spot.


'Northern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius ontario) 'Northern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius ontario)
'Northern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius ontario)
Orange Co., NC
25 May 2007

'Northern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius ontario)
Orange Co., NC
25 May 2007


'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
16 May 2007

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
16 May 2007


'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008
'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
18 May 2008

'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius) 'Southern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius favonius)
New Hanover Co., NC
16 May 2007

Many species of hairstreaks (especially these!) tilt their wings at certain angles to either hide from photographers or thermoregulate to sunlight.


'Northern' Oak Hairstreak (Satyrium favonius ontario) 'Northern' Oak Hairstreak
(Fixsenia favonius ontario)

First Duke Forest record!

Korstian Division, Duke Forest
Orange Co., NC
2 June 2003

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018
Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018

Oak Hairstreak (Fixsenia favonius)
Brazoria Co., TX
22 Apr 2018


North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page


Created on ... June 26, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com