Butterflies of North Carolina:
their Distribution and Abundance
Common Name: Scientific Name:
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Scientific Name begins with:
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Number of records: 256,058
Related Species in LYCAENIDAE:
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Common NameBanded Hairstreak by Scott Hartley => 2008-06-03, WEWO-Moore; C
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Scientific NameSatyrium calanus
Link to BAMONA species account.
MapClick on a county for list of all database records for the species in that county.
Flight Chart
Common NameBanded Hairstreak
Scientific NameSatyrium calanus
DistributionDISTRIBUTION: Nearly statewide, but surprisingly very rare to absent in the northern half of the Coastal Plain, where it is clearly "lacking" in many counties. Though there are relatively few observers in this part of the Coastal Plain, this large "hole" is not an artifact of observation.
AbundanceABUNDANCE: Uncommon to very locally common in the Mountains; uncommon in the Piedmont and southwestern Coastal Plain, but very rare in parts of the lower Coastal Plain, and especially so in the northern part of the province. Usually only one or a few individuals are seen at a time in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, but 100 or more have been reported in a day in the Mountains of the southern Appalachians.
FlightFLIGHT PERIOD: A single brood; mid-May to early July, peaking in late May and early June, in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont. In the Mountains, flies from late May to the first half of August, peaking in early July.
HabitatHABITAT: A wide variety of hardwood forests, but generally in open to medium-growth upland hardwoods. Typically seen nectaring or perched on leaves or twigs of trees along wooded borders or along roads or wide trails in the forest. Seldom seen more than 25 feet from a forest.
PlantsFOOD AND NECTAR PLANTS: Foodplants are generally oaks (Quercus spp.) or hickories (Carya spp.). The species spends much time perched on leaves and twigs of hardwoods along wooded borders and trails. Adults nectar at milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum), and other flowers along wooded borders.
CommentsCOMMENTS: There are many literature reports of observers seeing 100 or more a day, usually in the Mountains and in regions to the north of NC. Though NC is well within the range of the species, it is certainly more common to our north. Why it is so relatively scarce in NC is a mystery, as oaks are the primary foodplants. For example, in 2006 we received only two reports for the entire Piedmont province, and we received just one report for the entire Mountain province in 2013! Of the state's Satyrium species, this is the "easiest" one to encounter on a walk along or within a hardwood forest (at least along a wide track or road). Though it is very tedious to look at hardwood leaves (near eye level) along the forest edges as you are walking (in June and July mainly), at times you can spot a hairstreak perched on a leaf or can spot one darting quickly near a leaf. In many such cases, there will be a few other Banded Hairstreaks nearby, and if so, you are likely to see some "dog-fights" between males!
State Status (first) and Rank (second)none - S4S5
Federal Status (first) and Global Rank (second)none - G5
Synonym
Other Name
Links to other butterfly galleries: [Cook] [Lynch] [Pippen] [Pugh]
Photo by: Scott Hartley
Comment: Carvers Creek State Park, Cumberland County - 2012-Jun-06.
Banded Hairstreak - Click to enlarge 		Photo by: Frank Spilker
Comment: Wisconsin
Banded Hairstreak - Click to enlarge
Photo by: Scott Hartley
Comment: 2008-Jun-03. Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Moore County
Banded Hairstreak - Click to enlarge