Red-Banded and White M hairstreak
This White M Hairstreak is named for the shape on its wings resembling a white "M" (or "W" if seen upside down). This is a rare butterfly in our area. I have seen White Ms on four occasions: twice at Cox Arboretum, once at Grant Park in Centerville, and once in Hocking Hills (eastern Ohio). The individual at left and below was photographed at Grant Park on September 9, 2017.
This image is way too blurry to be a good photo, but I had to include it on this website anyway, just to illustrate how incredibly BLUE the wings are. White M Hairstreaks have dazzling blue wings ... but sadly, these butterflies almost never rest with their wings open. That brilliant flash of blue is only visible when they burst into flight.
This White M Hairstreak was photographed at Cox Arboretum on April 13, 2017. You can just barely see a hint of blue color where he is rubbing his wings together. White M Hairstreaks have two or three broods in our area. I have found them in April, August, and September.
Red-banded Hairstreak, photographed at Caesar Creek on May 22, 2021. Red-banded Hairstreaks are typically found further to our south, but they seem to be expanding their range north into our area. I have found several Red-banded Hairstreaks at Caesar Creek, Cox Arboretum, and along the Great Miami River.
Some Red-banded Hairstreaks, particularly the females, have blue scales on the upper surface of their wings. These butterflies never land with their wings open, so the blue color is only seen in flight or when the butterfly is rubbing its wings together (as seen here). The blue color is not as intense as in the White M Hairstreak below.
Another Red-banded Hairstreak at Caesar Creek, photographed on June 4, 2023. This butterfly is sipping nectar from a daisy. The caterpillars use sumacs as a host plant.
This Red-banded Hairstreak was photographed at Cox Arboretum. These butterflies have several broods. I see them in May and early June, and also in August.
