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 145 - 168 of 1985 verified sightings
Observation date: May 02, 2021
Submitted by: joanfiller
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 07, 2021
Observation date: May 05, 2021
Submitted by: sarabseth
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 05, 2021
Observation date: Apr 25, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 28, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 27, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 28, 2021
Observation date: Apr 19, 2021
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2021
Observation date: Apr 23, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Gratiot County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 24, 2021
Observation date: Apr 18, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 23, 2021
Observation date: Apr 18, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Apr 22, 2021
Observation date: Apr 21, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 21, 2021
Observation date: Apr 16, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2021
Observation date: Apr 19, 2021
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Apr 20, 2021
Observation date: Apr 10, 2021
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Apr 10, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: May 04, 2017
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Mar 18, 2011
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Mar 31, 1993
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: May 03, 1992
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 1991
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Apr 11, 1981
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Feb 25, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 11, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2021
Submitted by: sedges
Region: Georgia, Stephens County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 09, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2021
Observation date: Mar 29, 2021
Submitted by: Roy Cohutta
Region: Murray County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 02, 2021
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