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 169 - 192 of 2123 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 11, 2015
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Decatur County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jan 01, 2016
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 22, 2015
Observation date: Jun 09, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jul 13, 2015
Observation date: May 22, 2015
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 05, 2015
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: S. J. Stedman
Verified date: May 31, 2015
Observation date: May 20, 2015
Submitted by: juliereid
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 21, 2015
Observation date: May 09, 2015
Submitted by: juliereid
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 12, 2015
Observation date: May 03, 2015
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 11, 2015
Observation date: May 08, 2015
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 10, 2015
Observation date: Apr 29, 2015
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 01, 2015
Observation date: May 13, 2012
Submitted by: Jake a Bob
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 30, 2014
Observation date: Jun 26, 2014
Submitted by: doris potter
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Jul 17, 2014
Observation date: Jun 07, 2014
Submitted by: Axarus
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jul 02, 2014
Observation date: May 19, 2014
Submitted by: Dave Kinney
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2014
Observation date: Jun 02, 2014
Submitted by: James Fox
Region: Gladwin County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2014
Observation date: Jun 05, 2014
Submitted by: Carmel Mothersill
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 07, 2014
Observation date: May 20, 2014
Submitted by: Axarus
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jun 05, 2014
Observation date: May 04, 2014
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jun 05, 2014
Observation date: May 07, 2014
Submitted by: Lauenstein
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jun 05, 2014
Observation date: Apr 29, 2013
Submitted by: Michelle Noonan
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jun 05, 2014
Observation date: May 25, 2014
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Camden County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: May 26, 2014
Observation date: Apr 20, 2014
Submitted by: fm5050
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: May 15, 2014
Observation date: Apr 27, 2014
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Apr 29, 2014
Observation date: May 06, 2000
Submitted by: Jim Eckert
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Feb 26, 2014
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