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.
Habitat
Open woodland edges, gardens, and disturbed areas of the Southeast
Diet
Larvae: fallen leaf detritus of sumac and wax myrtle. Adults: nectar
How common
Common
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