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.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Brephidium exile
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 798 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 12, 2011
Submitted by: MC Nowak
Region: Union County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2020
Submitted by: Wanda Smith
Region: Texas, Tyler County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Sep 04, 2012
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 19, 2020
Submitted by: DannyboyKS
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: daperson
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Sep 12, 2015
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 03, 2020
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: bradnlabs
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2020
Observation date: Oct 12, 2019
Submitted by: Wolfpark
Region: Delta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 11, 2020
Observation date: Mar 05, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Mar 13, 2020
Observation date: Nov 21, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
Observation date: Nov 21, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Feb 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Feb 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 28, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Feb 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 29, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Feb 02, 2020
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: Joey Bom
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Feb 02, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 26, 2020
Observation date: Nov 02, 2019
Submitted by: Bob Herrmann
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 03, 2019
Observation date: Oct 28, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 31, 2019
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