The Red-banded Hairstreak is a small, pretty hairstreak with a distinctive bright red-orange band across the underside of its dark brown wings. It has an unusual larval diet of fallen leaves and decaying organic matter rather than living foliage. Adults are commonly seen nectaring at low flowers and perching with their hindwings rubbing together.
Best time to see a Red-banded Hairstreak
The best time to see a Red-banded Hairstreak is June–September, when about 62% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 25,598 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Red-banded Hairstreak? What bug is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Red-banded Hairstreak sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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