On Tuesday I was excited to spot this pretty Red-banded Hairstreak butterfly (Calycopis cecrops) while visiting Occoquan Regional Park. These tiny butterflies are only about an inch (25mm) in length, so I had to get pretty close to photograph one. Fortunately this butterfly seemed preoccupied with feeding, so it tolerated my presence pretty well.
My macro lens allowed me to capture an image that reveals many 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 are responsible for the name “hairstreak” and the pattern of colors on the antennae.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful colours, shadow and detail Mike!
Thanks, Liz. I always love it when I get cool shadows and this one certainly qualifies as such. I wasn’t able to get the entire butterfly in focus, but the important bits are pretty sharp and the rest is sharp enough not to be distracting. For example, you may notice that one of the antennae is more in focus than the other. 🙂
The pattern on the antennae look like they were used as a design on some of the alien invasion movies in the 60s.
I have always wondered about the motivation of the creators for the monsters/aliens of those movies. Your theory, Dan, is not impossible–I remember Mothra in the Mothra vs Godzilla movie. 🙂
That’s a beauty!
Thanks, Louella.
I studied this photo for quite a while, Mike, it is exquisite. I was glad you explained the “tails” on this butterfly, because by the shadow I wondered if there was something else under there that was hidden by the wing. I have never seen a tail on a butterfly. Thanks so much for yet another deeper understanding of a winged beauty.
Thanks so much, Jet. Only the tiniest of butterflies have those little tails that are pretty hard to detect with the naked eye. I have photographed several others with tails, including the Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly (https://michaelqpowell.com/2020/04/23/eastern-tailed-blue-butterfly-2/) and the Gray Hairstreak (https://michaelqpowell.com/2013/09/02/gray-hairstreak-buterfly/).
A complete delight to see these other two tailed butterflies, Mike, and to learn more about them. I see now why I never knew of the tails, because they are so tiny. Funny punchline on the gray hairstreak post. Thank you for enlightening me and brightening my day.
Your delightful and insightful comments always bring a smile to my face, Jet. As I have noted before, you truly seem to “get” me. Most people are familiar with the beauty of Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies–I love to highlight the smaller varieties that people may have never seen or more likely have simply never noticed.
And a cool shadow, very nice, Mike!
So pretty!
Blue Rock Horses Frederick County, Virginia bluerockhorses.com
What exquisite detail you’ve captured in this tiny beauty, Mike!
Thank. The little creatures like this have such amazing beauty that is so rarely highlighted or even noticed. You have to slow down, I would argue, and remain alert to get a sense of this magical world.
So true – even to just notice them at all. You’re really a master at that!
Thanks. A master? I’m not sure about that, but I sense that I am honing my skills the more photos that I take and the more time I spend in the wild.
Nice Mike! Love the detail on the Butterfly!
Thanks, Reed. I love my macro lens and use is as my go-to lens during the warm months. Right now my 180mm macro tends to be on my camera most of the time and I carry around my 24-105mm lens for those cases where I want a wider view, like when I am trying to document the habitat where I have found certain dragonflies.