Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue
Euphilotes ancilla (Barnes & McDunnough, 1918)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male is deep blue with wide black borders; hindwing orange band usually absent. Female brown with variably expressed marginal orange patch on the hindwing. Underside of both sexes is light blue-gray with black spots. Underside of forewing often suffused with smoky gray.
Wing Span: 5/8 - 1 inch (1.6 - 2.5 cm).
Life History: Dotted Blues usually stay near their host plants. Males patrol around the host plants all day to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers or buds; caterpillars eat flowers and fruits and are tended by ants. Chrysalids hibernate in leaf litter.
Flight: One flight; late April to early August depending on location and elevation.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various Eriogonum species, especially Sulphur-flower.
Adult Food: Flower nectar, especially from Eriogonum.
Habitat: Sun-exposed rocky slopes and flats with host plant colonies.
Range: Washington south to California and southern Alberta and Saskatchewan south through rockies and high plains to Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and northwestern New Mexico.
Conservation: Not required for the species, but rare subspecies in Nevada require survey and assessment of threats from alien weeds.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Subspecies shieldsi Austin and purpura Austin of Nevada are of high conservation concern because of their local nature and possible threat from invasive alien weeds such as cheatgrass.
Management Needs: Conserve habitats for rare subspecies and maintain host plant populations.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 246 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 02, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John G. Pasko)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
Observation date: Jul 16, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gordon Pratt)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Gordon Pratt)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
Observation date: Jul 19, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and Evi Buckner-Opler)
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Sep 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 23, 2005
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Jefferson County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 19, 1994
Submitted by: charleseharp (Chuck Harp)
Region: Liberty County, Montana, United States
Verified by: charleseharp (Chuck Harp)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 26, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Will Kerling)
Region: Park County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 13, 2007
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Powder River County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 30, 2004
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Broadwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: Jun 14, 2007
Submitted by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Region: Carter County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler (Steve Kohler)
Verified date: Jan 29, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Teton County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sweet Grass County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Box Butte County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Elbert County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cassia County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Morgan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Utah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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