Hoary Elfin
Callophrys polios (Cook & Watson, 1907)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: No tails. Upperside is orangish brown; underside brown. Forewing with outer margin of "frosted" white; irregular postmedian line is white. Outer half of hindwing is "frosted" light gray.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on plants in sunny clearings and low spots to look for females. Eggs are laid singly on leaf buds or flower pedicels. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from April-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) in the heath family (Ericaceae); probably trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including leatherleaf, pyxie, wild strawberry, and willow.
Habitat: Open sunny glades in barrens, rocky ridges, dunes, forest edges, adjacent to bogs.
Range: Very local distribution. Maine south to New Jersey, south in Appalachians to Virginia; west across Great Lakes states and southern prairie provinces; north to Alaska. Along Pacific Coast to northern California; south in Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 478 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 01, 2025
Observation date: Apr 26, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 13, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 13, 2025
Observation date: Apr 09, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 11, 2025
Observation date: May 09, 2024
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2025
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 16, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jun 11, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 25, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 04, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jhdwelly
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 30, 2024
Observation date: Apr 23, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 23, 2024
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Clackamas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2024
Observation date: Apr 14, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 16, 2024
Observation date: May 21, 2023
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 05, 2024
Observation date: May 15, 2023
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Missaukee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: May 22, 2023
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 16, 2023
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