Satyrium calanus

Satyrium calanus, the banded hairstreak, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

Banded hairstreak
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Satyrium
Species:	S. calanus
Binomial name
Satyrium calanus (Hübner, [1809])[2]
Subspecies
Four, see text
Synonyms
Rusticus calanus Hübner, [1809] Thecla calanus Dyar, 1903

Appearance, behavior, and distribution

The banded hairstreak is a common hairstreak east of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is a territorial butterfly that will challenge other butterflies invading its territory.

S. c. falacer on common milkweed, Ontario, Canada

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically:^[2]

• S. c. albidus Scott, 1981
• S. c. calanus
• S. c. falacer (Godart, [1824])
• S. c. godarti (Field, 1938)

Life cycle

Eggs are laid singly on the host plants and hatch in the spring. There is a single brood that flies early June to late August.^[3]

Host plants

Host plants include oak, hickory, and walnut (especially butternut).^[4]

Similar species

• Edwards' hairstreak (S. edwardsii)
• Hickory hairstreak (S. caryaevorum)