# Red-Banded Hairstreak (*calycopis cecrops*) The Red-Banded Hairstreak is a beautiful butterfly with striking red stripes on its wings. It loves to flutter around flowers, sipping sweet nectar during sunny days! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 19 - **Habitat:** Gardens, meadows, and open woodlands - **Also known as:** Cecrops Hairstreak, Red Hairstreak, Red-Banded Butterfly ![Red-Banded Hairstreak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Calycopiscecrops.JPG&width=800) Photo: Theresa Thom, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Calycopiscecrops.JPG) ## Appearance The Red-Banded Hairstreak is a small butterfly with dark, often brownish-gray upperwings and a striking dark gray underside. Its hindwings feature a vibrant reddish-orange band and delicate, hair-like tails that help distinguish it from other butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Calycopis ## Interesting facts - Adults sip nectar using a long, straw-like tongue called a proboscis! - Its caterpillars wear tiny "head-caps" that they shed and sometimes eat! - Sometimes these tiny butterflies will perch upside down to hide from birds. - The red band on its wings warns some predators that it might taste bad. ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Cloak:** Red-Banded Hairstreak has dull undersides with intricate patterns that help them blend seamlessly into their surroundings when resting. - **Rapid Evasion:** Red-Banded Hairstreak can fly with quick, erratic movements that make it incredibly hard for predators to catch them. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-38 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-14 days - **Flight Speed:** 10-15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on specific plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, while adults drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Sumac leaves, Bayberry leaves, Wax myrtle leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Winged Sumac (*Rhus copallina*) — Caterpillars feed on its leaves for growth and development. - **Eaten by:** [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) — A common bird predator that preys on butterflies. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Adults visit flowers to drink nectar, aiding in pollination. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-Banded Hairstreak? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Red-Banded Hairstreak's wingspan? 25-38 mm ### How big is Red-Banded Hairstreak? 10-15 mm ### How long does Red-Banded Hairstreak live? 7-14 days ### How fast can Red-Banded Hairstreak fly? 10-15 km/h ### What does Red-Banded Hairstreak eat? Adults drink flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on specific plant leaves. ### Where is Red-Banded Hairstreak usually found? Gardens, meadows, and open woodlands ### How does Red-Banded Hairstreak hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [American Baptist College](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/american-baptist-college) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Chanticleer Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chanticleer-garden) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Haskell-Baker Wetlands](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haskell-baker-wetlands) — Kansas, US · Nature Reserve - [Isaac Franklin Plantation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/isaac-franklin-plantation) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site - [Tennessee Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tennessee-aquarium) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/all-wars-memorial-to-colored-soldiers-and-sailors) — Pennsylvania, US · Historic Site [View all places to see Red-Banded Hairstreak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-banded-hairstreak) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Red-Banded Hairstreak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-banded-hairstreak)