Red-banded Hairstreak

  • Family name: Lycaenidae/Gossamer Wings
  • General description: Male dark gray; female dark gray with blue scaling toward wing bases. Ventral hindwing light gray with two short tails, a broad irregular median red band edged outwardly in white, a blue marginal patch and two black marginal spots.
  • Field Marks: small; ventral hindwing with broad median red band and short tails
  • Sexes: appear similar
  • Wingspan: 19-27 mm
  • Life Cycle: Egg: white, flattened, laid singly on dead leaves Mature larva: pinkish-brown Chrysalis: mottled brown
  • Number of Generations: multiple
  • Flight Season: All year
  • Abundance: Common
  • Habitat: old fields, woodlands, forest margins, shrubby sites, parks
  • Larval Host Plants: dead leaf litter; often in association with wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), smooth sumac (Rhus copallina), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)
  • Similar Species:
  • Additional Information: Only Florida butterfly to utilize detritus as larval food
  • Range in Florida

Florida wildflower vehicle license plateThe Florida Wildflowers & Butterflies projects at the Florida Museum are sponsored in part by the State of Florida and the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc.