Satyrium esculi (Hübner, 1804)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Quercus, especially Quercus ilex and Q. coccifera.

Habitat:
Satyrium esculi is mostly found in hot and dry, open woods and bushy slopes.

Life cycle:
The egg respectively the caterpillar in the egg shell overwinters on twigs and stems. First, it is dark gray, but obviously lightens up after a few weeks when the larva has developed. I tapped the larvae from flowering evergreen oaks in the Massif de la Sainte Baume in Provence in May. The adults fly from late May/early June to July (sometimes still rare in early August). They love to suck on blackberry and pistachio flowers.

Endangerment factors:
Satyrium esculi is probably moderately at risk, mostly by converting the sparse oak woods in pine plantations, vineyards or other cultivation and overbuilding.

Remarks:
Satyrium esculi occurs in Atlanto-Mediterranean distribution from North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula along the French Mediterranean coast to Provence.