banded hairstreak

not listed

N5 - Secure

S5 - Secure

not listed

Banded hairstreak is a small to medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of ⅞″ to 1⅜″. 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.

Wingspan: ⅞″ to 1⅜″

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

One generation: Late June to early August

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

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

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

Sources

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

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.

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

Location: Ramsey, MN yard

Location: Houston County, MN

Location: St. Louis Park, MN

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.