A Day with the Hairstreaks at Citrus Wildlife Management Area
There’s nothing quite like a springtime butterfly hunt to remind you of nature’s patience-testing brilliance—and our April 12 outing to Citrus Wildlife Management Area was the perfect case study. Located in central Florida’s Withlacoochee State Forest, the Citrus Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and naturalists alike. This patchwork of longleaf pine forests, scrubby flatwoods, and sandhills offers more than just great hiking trails—it’s also home to an impressive array of butterfly species. With sparkleberry and oaks in bloom, early spring is prime hairstreak season, and we had our sights set on one elusive gem: the Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops).
We rolled in around 11 AM, fueled by caffeine and high hopes. For the first hour, the butterflies were playing hard to get. The woods were quiet, the breeze a bit too crisp, and our cameras untouched. But then the sparkleberries started buzzing—literally.
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Soon, hairstreaks began to emerge like magic. We spotted Oak Hairstreaks fluttering among the blossoms, their green undersides glowing in the light. A few Banded Hairstreaks followed suit, their delicate stripes catching the eye, while Red-banded Hairstreaks danced along the forest floor. A single White M Hairstreak gave us a quick cameo, and a couple of Great Purple Hairstreaks shimmered above the canopy like flying jewels. The variety was thrilling—but still, no sign of our target.
Around midday, we met a friendly group of fellow butterfly enthusiasts, naturalists armed with binoculars and notebooks. They too were on the lookout for banded and striped hairstreaks. We excitedly told them about our earlier Banded Hairstreak sightings and tried (unsuccessfully) to help them relocate the area. Butterfly karma, perhaps, would pay us back later.
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The hours ticked on. We meandered through oak stands and sun-dappled clearings, eyes scanning every sparkleberry bush and treetop. By 5 PM, we were sweaty, a little sunburned, and on the brink of giving up when—finally—there it was. A Striped Hairstreak perched regally high on an oak treetop, backlit like a celebrity at curtain call. With some creative angles (and a bit of zoom magic), we managed to get decent shots, enough to confirm the ID and do a little celebratory fist pump.
While we may not have seen dozens of striped hairstreaks, the chase was half the fun. From surprise hairstreak cameos to unexpected naturalist meetups, our day at Citrus WMA was a reminder that butterfly-watching is equal parts luck, skill, and stubborn optimism. And sometimes, all it takes is one perfect hairstreak to make the whole adventure worth it. Until next time, stripes. 🦋
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