Subspecies-radiation
Guides
Satyrium saepium
Hedgerow Hairstreak
Satyrium saepium, the hedgerow hairstreak, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae endemic to western North America. The species exhibits significant geographic variation, with eleven recognized subspecies distributed across diverse habitats from coastal California to interior montane regions. Adults are active from spring through late summer and have been documented feeding on nectar from specific flowering plants. Larval development is tied to buckbrush (Ceanothus), a genus of flowering shrubs in the family Rhamnaceae.
Speyeria mormonia
Mormon fritillary
Speyeria mormonia, commonly known as the Mormon fritillary, is a small montane butterfly distributed across western North America from the Yukon to California and Nevada. The species exhibits extreme protandry, with males emerging at least two weeks before females, leading to skewed adult sex ratios toward males. It occupies diverse habitats including rocky mountainsides, meadows, grasslands, and forest clearings, with populations typically occurring in small, semi-isolated patches. Multiple subspecies have been described, reflecting the species' broad geographic range and high genetic variability.