Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1093184

Acmon Blue
Plebejus acmon

Observation date: August 01, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Butterfly was visiting Seacliff Buckwheat (E. Parvifolium) at native plant restoration area. Eriogonum Fasciculatum also growing nearby. Didn't get a good shot of the ventral sides. Partly cloudy day in the 70's F.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: August 03, 2016
Coordinator notes: These appear to be buckwheat feeding Acmon Blues which have yet to be effectively studied. They could be a cryptic species but current California Fish and Wildlife rules probably guarantee these won't be studied because of the cost of getting necessary costly permits, rules and reports required to get permits to do collecting and DNA work. Contrary to their claims, government does not REALLY seem to encourage scientific study. It is a fund raiser because government seems to believe butterfly scientists and their employers are rich. The opposite is true. Most scientists have to pay out of their own pockets and do their studies on their own time. The majority of butterfly scientists seem to be unemployed. Coordinators like me are volunteers and not paid for their work-Ken Davenport