Western Pygmy-Blue
Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Tiny. Upperside copper brown with dull blue at the bases of both wings. Underside of hindwing is copper brown with white at the base; fringe mostly white; 3 small black spots near base; row of black spots at outer margin.
Wing Span: 1/2 - 3/4 inch (1.2 - 2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol over the host plants all day to find receptive females. Females lay eggs all over the host but particularly on the uppersides of leaves. Caterpillars eat all parts of the plant. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: July-September in the north, all year in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Chenopodium album, saltbush species (Atriplex), and others in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Alkaline areas such as deserts, salt marshes, and wasteland.
Range: Common. Central California east to southern Nevada, central Arizona, central New Mexico, and west Texas. South through southern California, Baja California, and Mexico to Venezuela. Migrates to Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oregon.
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.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Brephidium exile
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 926 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 22, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Nov 16, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: Kolea
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 07, 2022
Observation date: Oct 30, 2022
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 05, 2022
Observation date: Oct 31, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 04, 2022
Observation date: Oct 29, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 30, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Roosevelt County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 19, 2022
Observation date: Apr 06, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Rosa Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Feb 27, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 03, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Miguel Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Feb 27, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Nov 01, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Oct 31, 2021
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Oct 26, 2014
Submitted by: JimConrad
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Major County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2021
Submitted by: scottmcutler
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 07, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 07, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Blaine County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
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