Satyrium saepium provo

Photo Life History: Satyrium saepium provo

Habitat:  Mountain Canyons

Host Plants:  Ceanothus velutinus

Suitable Lab Host Plants:

Caring for Live Female Butterflies:  Nectaring techniques

Methods of Female Oviposition:  

How to Find Eggs:

How to Hatch Eggs: 

How to Find Caterpillars in the Field:  Bang the inflorescens (flowers) of the host plant.  By doing this at the right time of the year, and placing a butterfly net or other flat surface under the flowers, it is not difficult to flush out all sorts of butterfly and moth larvae; (as well as ants and other bugs).  Click here for video.

Caterpillar setups:  Closed Container;

Overwintering Stage: Ovum

Overwintering Strategies:  Alpine Overwintering Technique

Larva to Pupa:  Larva Changes Color (From green to brown)

Emergence:  Emergence Container

Number of Broods per Year:  1

Avoiding Diapause Techniques:  Not necessary.  Larvae found on host plant are post-diapause.

Disease Prevention: Change out host plant and remove frass every two days.  Caterpillars can get sick in a closed container if overexposed to their own frass.

Field Notes:  Was able to find five larvae on 27 Jun 2008; on Skyline Drive to Bountiful Peak; 2 miles East of Centerville Canyon; West side Wasatch Mountains; 7000'; 3.5 miles South Bountiful Peak; UT: Davis County by banging on the flowers of Ceanothus velutinus.  I was also able to locate larvae of Incisalia augustinus annettae using the same method.