Summary ⁴

The Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) is a butterfly native to the southeastern United States. It feeds on fallen leaves of sumac species and other trees. Its size ranges from 0.9–1.25 inches (23–32 mm). It lives near coastal areas and edges.

Description ⁵

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. The wingspread of the adult is 24 to 30 mm.

Larva Description ⁵

Head concealed under prothorax; body brown; dorsal stripe brownish-green; dorso-ventrally flattened; cover with tiny setae; small black spots near lateral margin of prothorax and abdominal segements 1-8.

Larval host plants ⁶

Larval host plants include fallen leaves of wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), dwarf sumac (Rhus copallina), staghorn sumac (R. typhina), and several oaks.

GTM Occurrence ⁵

The Red-banded hairstreak is considered an uncommon species at the GTM. Observations were made along the open habitat (Transect A, 7 specimens) and the Marsh Pond Overlook (Transect B, 9 specimens). Individuals were seen on February, May-July, and September-October. Peak abundance was in October. The last siting of the Red-banded Hairstreak was October 17, 2011. There have been 16 specimens observed as of December 28, 2015.

Distribution ⁷

Global Range: Ohio and Long Island south to Texas and Florida. Most common on the coast of southeastern United States.

Habitat ⁸

Comments: Forest and forest edges; hammocks, fields, right of ways, brushland, occasionally yards with foodplants. Adults commonly visit gardens.

National nature serve conservation status ⁹

United States

Sources and Credits

1. (c) John Flannery, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/drphotomoto/4213598862/
2. (c) cotinis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/pcoin/1599252483/
3. (c) GTMResearchReserve, all rights reserved, uploaded by GTMResearchReserve
4. Adapted by GTMResearchReserve from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calycopis_cecrops
5. (c) GTMResearchReserve, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
6. Adapted by GTMResearchReserve from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28825246
7. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28825242
8. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28825246
9. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28825237

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0

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