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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 169 - 192 of 1021 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 09, 2022
Submitted by: zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 23, 2022
Observation date: Jan 08, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 10, 2022
Observation date: Nov 08, 2021
Submitted by: Tim Shortell
Region: Delta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2021
Observation date: Dec 12, 2021
Submitted by: 1tom2go
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 24, 2021
Observation date: Oct 13, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Beaver County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 16, 2021
Observation date: Oct 20, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 16, 2021
Observation date: Dec 05, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2021
Observation date: Dec 05, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Hudspeth County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 10, 2021
Observation date: Nov 25, 2021
Submitted by: radek_smolec
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 02, 2021
Observation date: Dec 01, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 01, 2021
Observation date: Nov 17, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 20, 2021
Observation date: Nov 18, 2021
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 18, 2021
Observation date: Oct 31, 2021
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2021
Observation date: Nov 07, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2021
Observation date: Oct 28, 2021
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Luna County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 14, 2021
Observation date: Nov 12, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2021
Observation date: Nov 12, 2021
Submitted by: nealinaz
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 13, 2021
Observation date: Nov 08, 2021
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 13, 2021
Observation date: Oct 19, 2020
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 12, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Oct 20, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Oct 14, 2021
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 23, 2021
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