Banded Hairstreak
Satyrium calanus
Banded Hairstreak, our most common Satyrium hairstreak, is a species that goes from boom to bust, being abundant in peak years but hard to find in down years. The subspecies Satyrium calanus falacer occurs statewide except in the Coastal counties where the Florida subspecies, S.c. calanus is dominant with its longer tails and more red along the hindwing edge. Individuals with longer tails and enhanced hindwing markings have also been documented in the eastern Coastal Plain north to Emanuel County. Banded Hairstreaks are quite variable in appearance and can easily be confused with Hickory Hairstreak (S. caryaevorum), which occurs in the same Mountain habitat in June. The main hostplants are Oaks (Quercus), including White Oak (Q. alba), Bluejack Oak (Q. incana), Turkey Oak (Q. laevis), Chestnut Oak (Q. prinus), and others Quercus species. John Abbot, who did most of his collecting in Screven County, found it using Hawthorne (Crataegus) (Butterflies of Georgia, Harris, 1972). It has one brood, occurring in mid-June to mid-July in the Blue Ridge Mountains and mid-May to mid June in the rest of the state. Early Date: April 30 (McIntosh County); Late Date: July 9 (Union County). Conservation Status: Secure.
