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
Get your 2023 BAMONA Gear!
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Thank you!
We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 93 verified sightings
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 16, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 19, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Mineral County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 24, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Mar 28, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 09, 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
Observation date: Mar 24, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ralph Wells)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 21, 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
- 1 of 4
- next ›