Hornet Strepsipteran vs Banded Hairstreak

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hornet Strepsipteran Banded Hairstreak
Scientific Name Xenos myrapetrus Satyrium calanus
Order Strepsiptera Lepidoptera
Family Xenidae Lycaenidae
Size 4.0-6.0 mm (males) 25-32 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Parasites Nectar Feeders
Regions Africa Eastern United States and southeastern Canada
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Hornet Strepsipteran

A large strepsipteran parasite of hornets and social wasps in tropical Africa. Males have distinctive fan-shaped hindwings.

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Did You Know?

Male strepsipterans have large eyes with only about 50 facets each, giving them the coarsest visual resolution of any insect.

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.