Desert Elfin
Callophrys fotis (Strecker, [1878])
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Upperside gray; underside brownish gray. Base of hindwing darker, outer half gray to yellow-gray.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (1.9 - 2.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch near host plants on trees and shrubs to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host; caterpillars feed on buds, flowers, and young fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Cliff rose (Cowania mexicana var. stansburiana) in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: In desert rocky canyons, hills, and scrub.
Range: Southeastern California, southern Nevada, central Utah, southwest Colorado, northern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.
Conservation: Not thought to be in need of conservation.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 100 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 22, 1993
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 24, 2025
Observation date: Apr 19, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 06, 2017
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Apr 29, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 04, 2023
Observation date: Apr 08, 2022
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2023
Observation date: May 07, 2021
Submitted by: dyshah
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2021
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: May 21, 1994
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Apr 07, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: May 04, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Apr 03, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 14, 2020
Observation date: Apr 04, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2020
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2017
Observation date: May 04, 2013
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2013
Observation date: Mar 30, 2002
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 21, 2012
Observation date: Apr 08, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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