Eastern Pine Elfin
Callophrys niphon Hübner, [1819]
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Tailless. Upperside dark brown; female with dark borders. Underside banded with dark brown; hindwing with submarginal gray band outside row of black crescents.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate and adults emerge in the spring.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various hard pines including scrub pine (Pinus virginiana) and jack pine (P. banksiana), and the soft white pine (P. strobus).
Adult Food: Nectar of many different flowers including blueberry, cinquefoil, chickweed, common milkweed, and white sweet clover.
Habitat: Areas with small to medium pines such as forest openings and edges, and old fields.
Range: Nova Scotia west to eastern Alberta; south to northern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and northern Florida.
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:
Incisalia niphon
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 145 - 168 of 2123 verified sightings
Observation date: May 24, 2017
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Mar 21, 2015
Submitted by: hflamholtz
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 06, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: St. Lawrence County, New York, United States
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Jun 19, 2017
Observation date: Apr 23, 2017
Submitted by: Leslie Warren
Region: Mahoning County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 18, 2017
Observation date: May 08, 2017
Submitted by: Sueevison
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 07, 2017
Observation date: May 15, 2017
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 16, 2017
Observation date: Apr 28, 2017
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 28, 2017
Observation date: Apr 15, 2017
Submitted by: Melinda Fawver
Region: Henderson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Apr 22, 2017
Observation date: Feb 28, 2017
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: Apr 20, 2017
Observation date: Apr 18, 2017
Submitted by: curtis.lehman
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 19, 2017
Observation date: Apr 12, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 17, 2017
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Meigs County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Logan County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 01, 2017
Observation date: May 08, 2016
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Washington County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2017
Observation date: Jun 11, 2016
Submitted by: sh11
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 20, 2016
Observation date: May 10, 2016
Submitted by: mikeakresh
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: May 20, 2016
Observation date: Apr 24, 2016
Submitted by: Saturn
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: May 04, 2016
Observation date: Apr 30, 2016
Submitted by: Joe Bartok
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 02, 2016
Observation date: Apr 14, 2016
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Apr 27, 2016
Observation date: Mar 31, 2016
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Apr 27, 2016
Observation date: Apr 21, 2016
Submitted by: Saturn
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: PDeGennaro
Verified date: Apr 24, 2016
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: ritaburkeviau
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: PDeGennaro
Verified date: Apr 03, 2016
Observation date: May 04, 2013
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Beth Johnson, Rick Borchelt, and Tom Stock)
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 29, 2016
Observation date: May 10, 2013
Submitted by: richardhsmith (Kathy Barylski and Denise and Rob Gibbs)
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Feb 18, 2016
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