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Federal Protection: No US federal protection

State Protection: No Georgia state protection

Global Rank: G3G4

State Rank: S2S4

Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes

SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes

SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes

2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Moderate Conservation Concern

Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 10

Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Wormsloe, Sweetleaf

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Description

  

Similar Species

Three other hairstreaks in Georgia can be easily confused with King's Hairstreak.  These are the Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii), and the Striped Hairstreak(Satyrium liparops).  

Habitat

   

Diet

Symplocos tinctora (Horse sugar/ Sweet leaf) has been observed to be the host plant for the caterpillar in Alabama.  Eggs are laid on the shrub in the fall.  Individuals overwinter as eggs and then hatch in the spring to begin feeding on buds and the new growth of leaves.

Life History

Survey Recommendations

Range

Threats

SWAP 2025 Threat Matrix

	Threat 1	Threat 2	Threat 3
General Threat	Natural system modifications	Pollution	None
Specific Threat	Fire & fire suppression	Air-borne pollutants	None

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SWAP 2025 Conservation Actions:

• Action 1: Habitat protection
• Action 2: Reduce the impacts of pesticides on terrestrial invertebrates through education and alternative management practices
• Action 3: Complete a distributional survey to assess current range, conservation status or to identify best populations
• Action 4: Reassess the conservation status of SGCN before the next revision of Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan
• Action 5: Outplant host plant (Symplocos tinctoria) to increase connectivity among populations

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References

https://alabama.butterflyatlas.usf.edu/species/details/139/kings-hairstreak