March 16, 2026

I am a Red-banded Hairstreak

I eat nectar from milkweed and dogbane

As a caterpillar 

I ate leaf litter

I'm an adult now, my taste sure has changed!

Location: DeLuca Preserve, Okeechobee

Sources: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wildflowers/butterfly/red-banded-hairstreak/

Photo and text © 2026 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 2, 2024

I am known as a Red-banded Hairstreak

Hairstreak refers to the two-little tails

That flutter at the bottom of my hind wings

As I fly over hills and dales.

Location: Private residence, Blountstown, FL

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/redbanded_hairstreak.htm

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

November 18, 2021

I am a Red-banded Hairstreak

I have two tails that hang off my hindwings

I mostly have the lighter color shown here,

But might be darker if you see me in the spring.

(This photo was taken in the autumn. See the link below for a photo of the darker version.)

Location: Kissimmee Prairie State Park

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/redbanded_hairstreak.htm

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 20, 2020

I am a Red-banded Hairstreak

On my wings I have eye spots and two tails

This makes it looks my head's on my end,

So when a spider tries to get me he fails.

(Note: Check out the link below for details on how they fake out spiders using these tails.)

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/redbanded_hairstreak.htm

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson