Yesterday I was thrilled to get a shot of this pretty Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly (Calycopis cecrops) at Occoquan Regional Park. These tiny butterflies are only about an inch (25mm) in length, so you really need a macro lens to get a close-enough shot that reveals all of the butterfly’s wonderful colors and patterns. It is also nice to be able to see the little “tails” protruding from the hind wings that I believe are responsible for the name “hairstreak.”
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wonderful detail, Mike. I love the stripes on the legs and antennae.
Looks as if it is saluting your effort! Thanks 🙂
Capturing these small insects is a skill I have never been able to master. Very nice.
Thanks, Ted. When I first started to get serious about photography, macro was one of the areas in which I concentrated my efforts. My macro lens tends to gather dust in the cold months when I focus mostly on birds, but each spring when the insects return, I rediscover my love for tiny creatures.