Eastern Pine Elfin
Callophrys niphon Hübner, [1819]
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Tailless. Upperside dark brown; female with dark borders. Underside banded with dark brown; hindwing with submarginal gray band outside row of black crescents.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate and adults emerge in the spring.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various hard pines including scrub pine (Pinus virginiana) and jack pine (P. banksiana), and the soft white pine (P. strobus).
Adult Food: Nectar of many different flowers including blueberry, cinquefoil, chickweed, common milkweed, and white sweet clover.
Habitat: Areas with small to medium pines such as forest openings and edges, and old fields.
Range: Nova Scotia west to eastern Alberta; south to northern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and northern Florida.
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:
Incisalia niphon
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 2099 verified sightings
Observation date: May 12, 2021
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Wyoming County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: May 19, 2015
Submitted by: Roose
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 13, 2021
Observation date: May 07, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 09, 2021
Observation date: May 03, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: May 03, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: May 01, 2021
Submitted by: Cameala
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 02, 2021
Observation date: Apr 30, 2021
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 30, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Gratiot County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 24, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chesterfield County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 22, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2020
Submitted by: Jacksenzig
Region: Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 12, 2021
Observation date: May 10, 2019
Submitted by: Quaker state mothing
Region: Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 11, 2021
Observation date: May 09, 2019
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: May 20, 2019
Submitted by: a-o
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: May 20, 2019
Submitted by: Graverobinn@gma...
Region: Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: May 09, 2019
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2018
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Chittenden County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 30, 2020
Observation date: May 19, 2020
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2008
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Door County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2020
Observation date: May 26, 2019
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Washburn County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2020
Observation date: Mar 05, 2020
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2020
Observation date: Apr 18, 2018
Submitted by: meadowglenfarm
Region: Scott County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
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