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Life Stages Diagram
The bars in this diagram show approximate times of the year when the butterfly will be present, in Nova Scotia, in its various life stages.

The dates shown for the adult stage are based on actual reports for Nova Scotia. The majority of reports will be within the period shown, but small numbers of adults will be earlier or later.

Dates for egg, larva and pupa are based on what information was available regarding time periods for eggs to develop, and typical time required for pupation. Like the adults, some records can be expected outside the date ranges we have shown. We caution that dates for these immature stages are mostly conjectural.

Acadian Hairstreak - Satyrium acadica
[Acadian Hairstreak image]
Acadian Hairstreak - Female - North Wallace Road - 2014-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert
What's this?
Status in Nova Scotia
Extremely rare. Ferguson mentions several collected from Pictou County during the 1940's and 2 more from Cumberland County August 1, 1952. The first Nova Scotia records for the butterfly atlas period are from the Wallace area, July 20 2014. The Maritimes Butterfly Atlas S-rank for this species is "S1:Extremely rare: May be especially vulnerable to extirpation (typically 5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals)".

Flight Period
Mid-July to late August.

Habitat
Streams, marshes, wet meadows.

Larval Foodplants
Willows (Salix spp.).

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
All four of our common hairstreaks are superficially similar. The major differences are in the patterning on the underside of the wings. See Banded Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak and Gray Hairstreak.

Further Reading


Acadian Hairstreak - Ward Pound Ridge, NY, June 28 1996
Acadian Hairstreak - Ward Pound Ridge, NY - June 28 1996
June 28 1996
Photo © Kristine Wallstrom
Acadian Hairstreak - Hall's Creek, NB, 2010-07-18
Acadian Hairstreak - Hall's Creek, NB - 2010-07-18
2010-07-18
Photo © Jim Edsall
Acadian Hairstreak - Fountain Rd. bridge, Wallace River, 2014-07-20
Acadian Hairstreak - Female - Fountain Rd. bridge, Wallace River - 2014-07-20
2014-07-20
Photo © Phil Schappert