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: 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.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Brephidium exile
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 965 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: Jbartkus
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 15, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 01, 2023
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Gbid
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2023
Observation date: May 11, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2023
Observation date: May 11, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2023
Observation date: Apr 24, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 26, 2023
Observation date: Mar 23, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Mar 24, 2023
Observation date: Mar 10, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2023
Observation date: Oct 22, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Nov 16, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: Kolea
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 07, 2022
Observation date: Oct 30, 2022
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 05, 2022
Observation date: Oct 31, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 04, 2022
Observation date: Oct 29, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 30, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
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