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Photo#205216
Red-banded hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops

Red-banded hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops
Richmond, Chesterfield County, Virginia, USA
July 23, 2008
Size: wingspan under 2in.
This guy worked very diligently on each cluster of flowers. It's antennae were feeling things constantly. This picture does not come close to capturing how beautiful this little butterfly is.

Red-Banded Hairstreak
It looks like a Red-Banded Hairstreak - Calycopis cecrops, to me. Compare:


Red-banded hairstreak
see here and below.


 
cropping question...
Now that you've indentified this "guy" for me, should I zoom back out to get a better picture to post?

 
It's not the cropping that's the problem, it's the focus
I would suggest you frass or delete this one, as we have so many better pictures in the guide, including from your state.

Do keep posting, though!

 
Kudos
Hannah, you seem to have the fastest trigger-finger (mouse-finger) in the west. And the east. Good show!

 
Thanks again you too!
Hannah is incredibly fast! You're always right there too Kenneth! I appreciate all the help you guys have given me. This Red-banded hairstreak was really interesting to watch, his wings moved sort of rhythmically back and forth (like rubbing hands), also his antennae never stopped feeling around. I've never noticed that on another butterfly. He's the only one still working on the butterfly bush besides the carpenter bees right now, he's been on it all day.

 
Rubbing Hands
The "rubbing hands" movement of which you speak seems to be indicative of the tailed Butterflies. At least with the one's I've seen. I've noticed Red-Banded, Banded, and Gray Hairstreaks doing this same movement, as well as Eastern Tailed Blues around my area. I don't recall seeing any other types of Butterflies that move their wings in this manner. I agree, they are quite fascinating to watch!

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