Perhaps as a result of its marked generalist tendencies with regard to host plants, the Banded Hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) is Maryland's most common Satyrium hairstreak. Still, like most hairstreaks, encounters are still typically uncommon. Banded Hairstreak occurs statewide, and has a single brood, flying from about mid-June into early July (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith).
Grayish-brown, with darker bands on the wings. This species typically has the postmedian bands with white edging only on the outer border, but very seldom on the inner. It also typically lacks an orange cap on the blue patch on the hindwing (Brock & Kaufman, 2003).
Look for Banded Hairstreaks in open canopy woods and also around patches of blooming milkweed. They can also often be found basking on sunlit leaves in deciduous forest.
Banded Hairstreaks use various trees and shrubs as host plants including Box Elder (Acer negundo), Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa), American Chestnut (Castanea dentata, Butternut (Juglans cinerea), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), White Oak (Quercus alba), Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Southern Red Oak (Quercus falcata), Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana), and Bear Oak (Quercus ilicifolia).
There are 187 records in the project database.
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