Attributes of Brephidium exilis
Western Pygmy-Blue
Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Tiny. Upperside copper brown with dull blue at the bases of both wings. Underside of hindwing is copper brown with white at the base; fringe mostly white; 3 small black spots near base; row of black spots at outer margin.
Wing Span: 1/2 - 3/4 inch (1.2 - 2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol over the host plants all day to find receptive females. Females lay eggs all over the host but particularly on the uppersides of leaves. Caterpillars eat all parts of the plant. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: July-September in the north, all year in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Pigweed (Chenopodium album), saltbush species (Atriplex), and others in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Alkaline areas such as deserts, salt marshes, and wasteland.
Range: Common. Central California east to southern Nevada, central Arizona, central New Mexico, and west Texas. South through southern California, Baja California, and Mexico to Venezuela. Migrates to Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oregon.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Taxonomy Notes:
Images of Brephidium exilis
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The map below displays all verified sighting records in the BAMONA database for this species. Each record is indicated with a yellow dot. The orange dots on the map provide access to information about the 200 most recently verified sightings of this species. In some instances, there are several records at the same location. Use the table view to access these records.
Instructions: Click on the map and move your mouse to pan.
Zoom by using the plus [+] and minus [-] on the left side of the map.
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The fifty most recently verified sightings are below. See more recently verified sightings of all species.
| Observation Date | Submitter | Region |
Verified Date |
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October 17, 2011 | HeidiG | Fremont County, Colorado, United States | May 14, 2012 | Details |
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January 25, 2012 | BK Percival | Pueblo County, Colorado, United States | May 14, 2012 | Details |
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September 12, 2011 | Amateur Entomologist | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | February 27, 2012 | Details |
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July 10, 2009 | Amateur Entomologist | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | February 20, 2012 | Details |
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October 16, 2010 | pcastrovillo | Canyon County, Idaho, United States | January 29, 2012 | Details |
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October 05, 2011 | jftrahan | Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States | December 03, 2011 | Details |
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October 06, 2011 | jftrahan | Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States | December 03, 2011 | Details |
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October 27, 2006 | Shirley Wilkerson | Brazos County, Texas, United States | November 10, 2011 | Details |
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November 07, 2011 | Greg Dean | Riverside County, California, United States | November 08, 2011 | Details |
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November 07, 2011 | Greg Dean | Riverside County, California, United States | November 08, 2011 | Details |
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November 20, 2010 | Kari | Pinal County, Arizona, United States | October 06, 2011 | Details |
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August 20, 2011 | jftrahan | Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States | September 23, 2011 | Details |
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May 11, 2011 | lorhum | Clark County, Nevada, United States | September 11, 2011 | Details |
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August 16, 2011 | Matt ODonnell | Valencia County, New Mexico, United States | September 08, 2011 | Details |
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September 03, 2011 | aahewetson | Glasscock County, Texas, United States | September 06, 2011 | Details |
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September 16, 2010 | Daniel | San Juan County, New Mexico, United States | August 07, 2011 | Details |
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October 01, 2010 | tina.hart | Delta County, Colorado, United States | July 17, 2011 | Details |
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October 28, 2009 | naomiblinick | Sonora, Mexico | May 03, 2011 | Details |
| May 05, 1977 | legacy.reporter (Jim Brock) | Kern County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| June 05, 1977 | legacy.reporter (Jim Brock) | Kern County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| June 03, 2007 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | Kern County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| August 24, 2007 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| May 19, 2004 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| September 29, 2004 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| June 09, 2005 | legacy.reporter (Kim Davis & Mike Stangeland) | Inyo County, California, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
| October 07, 1993 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Clark County, Nevada, United States | May 01, 2011 | Details | |
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October 10, 2010 | aahewetson | Borden County, Texas, United States | March 14, 2011 | Details |
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September 19, 2010 | aahewetson | Castro County, Texas, United States | March 14, 2011 | Details |
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September 19, 2010 | aahewetson | Texas, Parmer County, United States | March 14, 2011 | Details |
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October 17, 2010 | aahewetson | Texas, Swisher County, United States | March 14, 2011 | Details |
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November 08, 2010 | aahewetson | Texas, United States, Wilbarger County | March 14, 2011 | Details |
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November 08, 2010 | aahewetson | Texas, Knox County, United States | March 14, 2011 | Details |
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November 08, 2010 | aahewetson | Texas, King County, United States | February 25, 2011 | Details |
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July 05, 2010 | aahewetson | Texas, Jones County, United States | February 20, 2011 | Details |
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June 13, 2010 | aahewetson | Garza County, Texas, United States | February 15, 2011 | Details |
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August 02, 2005 | anthony.thomas | Arizona, United States | January 23, 2011 | Details |
| September 24, 2010 | paulopler (Paul Opler) | Emery County, Utah, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| September 23, 2010 | paulopler (Paul Opler) | Grand County, Utah, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| April 09, 2010 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Inyo County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| July 17, 2010 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Kern County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| April 09, 2010 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Inyo County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| July 17, 2010 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Kern County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| April 09, 2010 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Inyo County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| July 17, 2010 | Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport) | Kern County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| May 05, 1977 | legacy.reporter (Jim Brock) | Kern County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| June 05, 1977 | legacy.reporter (Jim Brock) | Kern County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| June 03, 2007 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | Kern County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| August 24, 2007 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| May 19, 2004 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details | |
| September 29, 2004 | legacy.reporter (William Bouton) | San Luis Obispo County, California, United States | December 31, 2010 | Details |
