redbanded hairstreak

Redbanded hairstreak

common name: redbanded hairstreak

scientific name: Calycopis cecrops (Fabricius) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Introduction 

The redbanded hairstreak, Calycopis cecrops (Fabricius), is a very attractive butterfly and is one of our most common hairstreaks throughout the southeastern United States in dry open woods and wooded neighborhoods.

Distribution

The redbanded hairstreak is found from Maryland to southeast Kansas to eastern Texas and throughout Florida. As a stray, it is occasionally found as far north as southern Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Description

The wingspread of the adult is 24 to 30 mm. The under surface of the wings is gray-brown with a postmedial white line edged with a bright orange to red-orange band. Each hind wing has two tails (hairstreaks) with a relatively large conspicuous eyespot on the wing margin between the bases of the tails.

Eggs are dimpled white turning to tan as hatching approaches. Larvae are brown with a median dorsal longitudinal stripe and covered with a coat of short hairs. Spiracles are conspicuous as dark submarginal spots on the prothorax and abdominal segments one through eight. Pupae are hairy and are light brown mottled with darker brown or black.

Life Cycle 

There are several flights (May-October) in the northern part of the range and year round in Florida. Adults feed on nectar and sip from mud. Males perch on vegetation to await the arrival of females for mating. As with the other hairstreak butterflies, perching adults move their hind wings up and down. The tails on the hind wings with their associated eyespots resemble a head. The movement of the tails is believed to attract a potential predator's attention to that part of the wings which then is torn away allowing the butterfly to escape. This “false head” defense has been documented to be effective against the attacks of jumping spiders (Sourakov 2013).

Eggs are laid on the undersides of dead leaves on the ground beneath the host plants. Larvae are reported to feed on dead leaves and detritus in the leaf litter. However, at least in the laboratory, they will also feed on living foliage and flowers. Reported host plants include wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera L.) sumacs (particularly winged sumac, Rhus copallinum L.), crotons and oaks. Early fourth instar larvae overwinter.