Banded Hairstreak vs Dusky-winged Fritillary

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Banded Hairstreak Dusky-winged Fritillary
Scientific Name Satyrium calanus Boloria natazhati
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Lycaenidae Nymphalidae
Size 25-32 mm wingspan 28-34 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Tundra & Arctic
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Eastern United States and southeastern Canada Alaska, Yukon, northern British Columbia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Banded Hairstreak

A small dark brown butterfly with conspicuous bands of white-edged dark dashes on its hindwing underside. It has a short thin tail and a small orange spot near the tail.

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Did You Know?

It rubs its hindwings together after landing, moving the tails to mimic antennae and trick predators into attacking the wrong end.

Dusky-winged Fritillary

A small fritillary butterfly with dark brown wings bearing orange spots and complex underside markings. It flies in remote mountain passes and high tundra. The species is named after Mount Natazhat in Alaska.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly is so restricted to high-altitude Arctic habitats that each mountain population may be genetically distinct.