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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters (Lycaenidae) » Hairstreaks (Theclinae) » Eumaeini » Strymon » Gray Hairstreak - Hodges#4336 (Strymon melinus)
Photo#452327
UNKNOWN INSECT - CATERPILLAR - PINK HAIRSTREAK 05 - Strymon melinus
Copyright © 2010 icnaj

UNKNOWN INSECT - CATERPILLAR - PINK HAIRSTREAK 05 - Strymon melinus
Raccoon Creek State Park, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, USA
September 6, 2010
Size: 3/8" long
Found this on a clothing burr (unsure what the plant is called officially). The plant was located on the edge of an open field.

Seems to match a description for a banded hairstreak, though some references to Edwards and Hickory Hairstreaks provide for no caterpillar pics for a comparison.

I'm prepared to live the rest of my life thinking it is a Banded Hairstreak. Can anyone confirm or deny?
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Contributed by icnaj on 7 September, 2010 - 11:06am
Last updated 25 September, 2011 - 9:21am

Moved
Moved from Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters.
… Charley Eiseman, 25 September, 2011 - 9:21am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from Butterflies (excluding skippers).
… David J. Ferguson, 3 December, 2010 - 10:00pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… john and jane balaban, 1 October, 2010 - 4:15pm login or register to post comments

This is the Gray Hairstreak -
This is the Gray Hairstreak - Strymon melinus. Very variable caterpillar that feeds on almost any flower or seed. Satyrium calanus, the banded hairstreak feeds in the spring mostly on oaks.
… Sam Jaffe, 8 September, 2010 - 8:41pm login or register to post comments

 
Good point
Personally, I don't view this cat as having long dorsal hair, but I can't deny your seasonal reasoning either, as well as, the odds governing rarity. I encounter the gray hairstreak quite often. I cannot say that I've ever encountered a banded hairstreak.

My field guide does say that the gray hairstreak cat is green, not really mentioning variability, though I see the pics on here have some with pink.

Ok. I'm down.
… icnaj, 9 September, 2010 - 11:25am login or register to post comments

Some sort of Tick Trefoil...
The seed pods resemble the Showy Tick Trefoil plant, but I could be off a bit. I hope that helps you narrow down your species.
… Cassie Novak, 7 September, 2010 - 11:17am login or register to post comments

 
Indeed, Showy Tick Trefoil
Yes, thank you much. That is indeed the plant

I did not see the cat eating mind you. Perhaps it was looking to take a trip?
… icnaj, 7 September, 2010 - 11:29am login or register to post comments

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