Brown Elfin
Callophrys augustinus (Westwood, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: No tails. Upperside of male gray-brown; female reddish brown. Underside chestnut brown with dark, irregular postmedian line; hindwing darker at base.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on shrubs in open areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plants; caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits. Pupation takes place in litter at the base of the host plant; chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from May-July in the north, March-April in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: In the East, members of the heath family (Ericaceae), including sugar huckleberry (Vaccinium vacillans) and Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum). In the west, many other plants including madrone (Arbutus) and dodder (Cuscuta).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including blueberry, footsteps-of-spring, spicebush, willow, winter cress, and wild plum.
Habitat: Mixed conifer woods, barrens, bogs, sandy coasts, chaparral.
Range: Newfoundland north and west through northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska; south in Appalachians to northern Georgia and northern Alabama; south through western mountains to northern Baja California. Does not occur on the plains or in the Midwest.
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.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Callophrys augustus
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1894 verified sightings
Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region:
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 23, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2019
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Baraga County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: May 23, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: May 27, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 1986
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Mar 29, 2022
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2022
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Rhea County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 09, 2022
Submitted by: Chris Tosdevin
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 11, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2022
Observation date: May 25, 2022
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 26, 2022
Observation date: May 20, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 21, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: May 20, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 18, 2022
Observation date: May 13, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 18, 2022
Observation date: May 15, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 17, 2022
Observation date: May 15, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 15, 2022
Observation date: May 09, 2022
Submitted by: Patti_Patamawadee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2022
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