Home
Species Detail
Lupine Blue
Plebejus lupini (Boisduval, 1869)
Attributes of Plebejus lupiniFamily: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae) Subfamily: Blues (Polyommatinae) Identification: Upperside of male lilac blue with wide dark borders; female dark brown. Band at hindwing outer margin wide, orange-red, in male may be divided into separate chevrons. Life history: Males patrol near the host plants for females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers, which the caterpillars eat. Second-stage caterpillars hibernate. Flight: In the Sierra Nevada of California, one flight from June-August; elsewhere, several flights from March-July. Wing span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm). Caterpillar hosts: Several species of perennial wild buckwheat including sulfur flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) and flat top (Eriogonum fasciculatum) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). Adult food: Flower nectar. Habitat: Alpine slopes, mountain meadows and slopes, prairies, rocky outcrops, chaparral, and sagebrush. Range: Southwestern Canada south through much of mountainous and intermountain West and high plains to northern Mexico. Conservation: Several populations, some unnamed, are highly local, and are of conservation concern. NatureServe Global Status: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Management needs: Monitor status of populations, conserve habitats, and be vigilant for effects of exotic weeds. | Documented Records for Plebejus lupini
|
