common name: redbanded hairstreak
scientific name: Calycopis cecrops (Fabricius) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
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.
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.
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.
adult
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.
egg
larva
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.
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.
wax myrtle
winged sumac
- Daniels JC. 2000. Butterflies 2: Butterflies of the Southeast. UF/IFAS. Card Set. SP 274.
- Gerberg EJ, Arnett RH. 1989. Florida Butterflies. National Science Publications, Inc.
Baltimore, MD.
- Gifford SM, Opler PA. 1983. Natural history of seven hairstreaks in coastal North Carolina. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 37: 97-105.
- Opler PA, Krizek GO. 1984. Butterflies East of the Great Plains. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD.
- Opler PA, Malikul V. 1998. Eastern Butterflies. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York.
- Scott JA. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press. Stanford, CA.
Authors: Donald W. Hall and Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Photographs: Jerry F. Butler and Donald W. Hall, University of Florida
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-108
Publication Date: August 1999. Latest revision: June 2007.
Copyright 1999-2007 University of Florida
Featured Creatures
Department of Entomology and Nematology
Division of Plant Industry
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