banded hairstreak

(Satyrium calanus)

Conservation Status
banded hairstreak
Photo by Mike Poeppe
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

S5 - Secure

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Banded hairstreak is a small to medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of to 1. It perches with wings closed and is rarely seen from above.

The underside of both wings is grayish-brown or brownish-gray with darker brown spots. On the forewing there is a row of narrow submarginal spots, a row of larger postmedial spots, and a pair of medial spots. The submarginal spots are outlined with white on the inside only and fade out as they approach the wing tip. The postmedial spots are rectangular and more or less connected. They are outlined with white usually on the outside only, rarely also lightly outlined on the inside as well. The hindwing is similarly marked with crescent-shaped submarginal spots, a more jagged line of postmedial spots, and two pair of medial spots. There are also a few to several submarginal orange spots and a blue spot at the outer angle that is not capped with orange. There are two tails near the tip, one long and one short.

The eyes are black.

The antennae are black-and-white striped with a orange-tipped club.

The caterpillar is wide, somewhat flattened, and short, no more than 1 long. It is highly variable in appearance. It is green with a number of pale stripes at first, turning brown just before pupating. There are usually a pair of subdorsal stripes over the thorax that may continue over the abdomen. Between the subdorsal stripes there is often a dark patch or darker pigment on the second thoracic segment and on abdominal segments 1 and 6 through 10. Each abdominal segment has a subspiracular stripe and a pair of oblique stripes between the subdorsal and subspiracular stripes.

Mature caterpillars are found in late spring before the foliage is mature.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Wingspan: to 1

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Woodland edges, open areas adjacent to oak woodlands, parks, and yards

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

One generation: Late June to early August

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

During the summer the female lays eggs singly on twigs of host species. The eggs overwinter and hatch in the spring.

 
     
 

Larva Hosts

 
 

Catkins and young leaves of mostly oak (Quercus spp.), but also walnut (Juglans spp.), and hickory (Carya spp.)

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Nectar of flowers, especially milkweed and dogbane, but also sumac, sweet clover, yarrow, meadowsweet, and New Jersey tea.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 72, 75, 82.

 
  7/3/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Widespread but uncommon. Population fluctuates. Sometimes locally common but few in number.

There are eight hairstreak butterfly species found in Minnesota. All of them are uncommon or rare in the state. Banded hairstreak is the most common of these.

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)  
 

Superfamily

Papilionoidea (butterflies)  
 

Family

Lycaenidae (gossamer-winged butterflies)  
 

Subfamily

Theclinae (hairstreaks)  
 

Tribe

Eumaeini  
  Subtribe Eumaeina  
 

Genus

Satyrium (satyrid hairstreaks)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

eastern banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus falacer)

Florida banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus calanus)

Godart’s hairstreak (Satyrium calanus godarti)

pale banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus albidus)

 
       
 

Satyrium calanus falacer was formerly considered a separate species, Satyrium falacer.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Satyrium falacer

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

banded hairstreak

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Paulette G

 
    banded hairstreak      
 

Mike Poeppe

 
    banded hairstreak   banded hairstreak  
           
    banded hairstreak      
 

Margot Avey

 
    banded hairstreak   banded hairstreak  
 

John Shier

 
  It was apparent to me that this is one I don't commonly see... At least we have a bright background -- butterfly weed.   banded hairstreak  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
    banded hairstreak   banded hairstreak  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Banded Hairstreak Butterfly (Lycaenidae: Satyrium calanus) on Ground
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 9, 2011

Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (08 July 2011).

 
  Banded Hairstreak Nectaring Butterflyweed 2 - July 9, 2014
Don Gagnon
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 10, 2014

Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus), nectaring Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa​), Part 2, Butterfly Garden, Gagnon Wildlife Habitat, Wednesday afternoon, July 9, 2014, 1:45 PM - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 00181 / 00182; 50 sec.

 
  Banded Hairstreak and Ants
MJBugs
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 20, 2011

This banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) larva looks to be tended by ants. Note that there are two discolorations on the larva, one is an ant and the other may be a scar from a parasitoid.

 
  Banded Hairstreak
Paul Sweet
 
   
 
About

Published on Dec 2, 2010

Tips for identifying one of N. Illinois' most common butterflies.

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
  Paulette G
7/2/2022

Location: Ramsey, MN yard

banded hairstreak  
  Mike Poeppe
6/30/2021

Location: Houston County, MN

banded hairstreak  
  Margot Avey
7/17/2020

Location: St. Louis Park, MN

banded hairstreak  
  John Shier
6/23/2018

Location: At Whitetail Ridge regional park in Dakota County

It was apparent to me that this is one I don't commonly see... At least we have a bright background -- butterfly weed.

banded hairstreak  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 7/2/2018

Last Updated:

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