Edwards’ Hairstreak:
Satyrium edwardsii

Edwards’ Hairstreak is an elusive species that is rare statewide. There are two subspecies: Satyrium edwardsii occurs in the Mountains, the Piedmont and the Ridge and Valley and Satyrium edwardsii meridionale (Gatrelle, 2001) occurs in the Sandhills. One school of thought (Gatrelle) is that the species is clinal and that individuals occurring between the Mountains and the Sandhills are intergrades, but individuals from Paulding County appear to be S. edwardsii. The hostplant is blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) that is found in dry rocky or sandy woodlands throughout the state. There is no proof that other oak species are used. Eggs are laid at the base of the stems of young blackjack oaks less than waist-high that sprout in powerline cuts and other open areas along the border of mature blackjack oak forests. The subspecies S.e meridionale has been documented in Taylor and Emanuel Counties, and probably occurs in all Sandhill counties. There is one brood, with S.e. meridionale occurring in May and S.edwardsii occurring in late May and early June in the Piedmont and from mid-June into early July in the Ridge and Valley and the Mountains. Early Date: May 13 (Bibb); Late Date: July 4 (Rabun). Conservation Status: Secure. Land preservation of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Paulding Forest, Dawson Forest, Sandhills WMA and Chattahoochee Fall Line WMA all provide critical habitat for the species.