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Life Stages Diagram
The bars in this diagram show approximate times of the year when the butterfly will be present, in Nova Scotia, in its various life stages.

The dates shown for the adult stage are based on actual reports for Nova Scotia. The majority of reports will be within the period shown, but small numbers of adults will be earlier or later.

Dates for egg, larva and pupa are based on what information was available regarding time periods for eggs to develop, and typical time required for pupation. Like the adults, some records can be expected outside the date ranges we have shown. We caution that dates for these immature stages are mostly conjectural.

Banded Hairstreak - Satyrium calanus
[Banded Hairstreak image]
Banded Hairstreak - On milkweed. - Kentville, N.S. - 2014-07-10
Photo © Mark Elderkin
What's this?
Status in Nova Scotia
Rare. Ferguson mentions only 1 record on July 10, 1938 in Annapolis County. The Maritimes Butterfly Atlas S-rank for this species is "S2: Rare: May be vulnerable to extirpation due to rarity or other factors (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals)".

Flight Period
Early- to mid-July.

Habitat
Deciduous forest edges, city gardens, roadsides.

Larval Foodplants
Oaks (Quercus spp.).

Similar Species in Nova Scotia
All four of our common hairstreaks are superficially similar. The major differences are in the patterning on the underside of the wings. See Acadian Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak, and Gray Hairstreak.

Further Reading


Banded Hairstreak - Halifax, NS, 2000-08-02
Banded Hairstreak - Halifax, NS - 2000-08-02
2000-08-02
Photo © Jim Edsall
Banded Hairstreak - Armdale, NS, 1999-07-20
Banded Hairstreak - Armdale, NS - 1999-07-20
1999-07-20
Photo © Peter Payzant
Banded Hairstreak - Annapolis Valley, 2011-07-19
Banded Hairstreak - Annapolis Valley - 2011-07-19
2011-07-19
Photo © Angus MacLean
Banded Hairstreak - Kentville, N.S., 2014-07-10
Banded Hairstreak - On milkweed. - Kentville, N.S. - 2014-07-10
2014-07-10
Photo © Mark Elderkin
Banded Hairstreak - Dartmouth, 2017-07-20
Banded Hairstreak - Dartmouth - 2017-07-20
2017-07-20
Photo © Jim Edsall
Banded Hairstreak - Waverley, 2021-07-24
Banded Hairstreak - Waverley - 2021-07-24
2021-07-24
Photo © Rita Viau
Banded Hairstreak - Waverley, 2021-08-03
Banded Hairstreak - Nectaring on Queen Anne's Lace - Waverley - 2021-08-03
2021-08-03
Photo © Rita Viau
Banded Hairstreak - Miner’s Marsh, Kentville, 2021-08-01
Banded Hairstreak - Nectaring on Queen Anne's Lace - Miner’s Marsh, Kentville - 2021-08-01
2021-08-01
Photo © Elke Love
Banded Hairstreak - Lake William Trail, Waverley, 2022-07-10
Banded Hairstreak - Lake William Trail, Waverley - 2022-07-10
2022-07-10
Photo © Rita Viau