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.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Callophrys augustus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1970 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 26, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Apr 14, 2025
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Scioto County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: May 25, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: May 19, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: May 23, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2025
Observation date: Mar 21, 2025
Submitted by: RRAZ
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 18, 2025
Observation date: May 17, 2025
Submitted by: Todd Boland
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Apr 13, 2025
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 11, 2025
Observation date: May 06, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 07, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2025
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Jefferson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Apr 08, 2025
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: San Benito County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2025
Observation date: Apr 15, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: Apr 15, 2025
Submitted by: gablav
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: Mar 25, 2025
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: Mar 28, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2025
Observation date: Mar 24, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 27, 2025
Observation date: Mar 23, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 24, 2025
Observation date: Mar 20, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 22, 2025
Observation date: Mar 09, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2025
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