Hickory Hairstreak is one of the rarest butterflies in North Carolina, with only a handful of documented records. It is very similar to the common Banded Hairstreak, differing in several subtle field marks.

Jeff Pippen, Dave Powell, and I found this one (with many Bandeds) in Buncombe Co., NC, 7/7/2002.

Ron Gatrelle confirmed our ID, saying that this is a "classic" female Hickory Hairstreak.