Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1281063

Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue)
Plebejus melissa

Observation date: August 05, 2020
Submitted by: Harry Forbes
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Sunny and warm. Nectaring on milkweed at approx 10K feet in elevation. Mike: You have been the reviewer for most of my CO sightings. I really appreciate it and also appreciate your helpful comments. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays as appropriate. Harry
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: December 15, 2020
Coordinator notes: Yes, very worn indeed but certainly not the Greenish Blue because you can see it has a series of orange spots basally to the black spots at the edge of the hindwing. I've settled on this being the Melissa Blue. There should be some metallic scales where the black spots are but they are apparently worn off. There is no sign of black checks in the wing fringe so it is not a Dotted Blue. At the outside, it could also be a Lupine Blue (aka Buckwheat Blue) with the metallic scales worn off too but I think the Melissa Blue is more likely by the location you detailed. Mike
Checklist region(s): United States, Colorado, Park County