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Fletcher Wildlife Garden | all galleries >> Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the FWG >> Gossamer Wings (Lycaenidae): Coppers, Hairstreaks and Blues > Banded hairstreak butterfly larva (Satyrium calanus)
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30-MAY-2014 Christine Hanrahan

Banded hairstreak butterfly larva (Satyrium calanus)

Turning over oak leaves on both red and bur oaks, looking for insects, particularly a certain treehopper, I found this tiny rather flat little critter. I reckoned it was a butterfly larva but only when I got home and checked field guides did I think it was likely that of a hairstreak. I turned to the expert in these matters, Ross Layberry, who promptly identified it as a banded hairstreak, about 3rd instar. It was on the underside of a bur oak leaf. I was quite pleased to find it because finding the larvae (caterpillars) of butterflies seems to me to be far more difficult that finding the larvae of moths. Or perhaps it is simply that there are so many moth species compared to butterflies that chances are that much greater.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ200
1/2000s f/2.8 at 4.5mm iso125 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
Guest 04-Jun-2014 07:40
An interesting find, and identification expertly resolved.
Ceya03-Jun-2014 18:57
Beautifully captured colors, light and detail! V
joseantonio03-Jun-2014 16:41
This is simply spectacular. Lovely details.V.
Lieve Snellings03-Jun-2014 16:27
amaaaaazing... V
Ghislaine et Réal Boulet03-Jun-2014 13:01
Beautiful macro.
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