Western Square-dotted Blue
Euphilotes battoides (Behr, 1867)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Extremely variable geographically. Upperside of female brown often with orange band on outer edge of hindwing. Male blue with dark borders. Male may have orange band on outer edge of hindwing. Underside is off-white to gray with black postmedian spots ranging from square to round and from large to small, again depending on subspecies. Best identified by associated host, locality, and season.
Wing Span: 11/16 - 13/16 inches (1.6 - 1.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol all day near host plants to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on host plant flowers; caterpillars eat flowers and fruits, and are protected by ants. Chrysalids hibernate in sand or leaf litter.
Flight: One flight; Mid-April to August depending on location and host bloom.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various wild buckwheats (Eriogonum species) including coastal buckwheat and sulphur-flower.
Adult Food: Flower nectar especially that from Eriogonum species.
Habitat: Varies by subspecies; includes, prairie, open woodlands, chaparral, dunes, and alpine rock gardens.
Range: Spotty distribution from Washington south to Baja California Norte, thence west to southern Colorado and New Mexico.
Conservation: Most populations are probably secure, but invasive alien weeds such as cheatgrass may threaten an unknown proportion.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. The Comstock's Blue (subspecies comstocki), and an unnamed subspecies all have The Nature Conservancy rank of T1 - Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. (Critically endangered throughout its range).
Management Needs: Maintain habitat together with host plants of all known populations.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 246 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 04, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2017
Observation date: Jul 09, 2016
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2016
Observation date: Jul 18, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2016
Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2016
Observation date: Jul 10, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Mar 10, 2016
Observation date: Jun 13, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jun 14, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jul 28, 2014
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 03, 2014
Observation date: Aug 19, 2011
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 24, 2013
Observation date: Jun 10, 2013
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 29, 2013
Observation date: Jun 24, 2012
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 23, 2012
Observation date: Jul 02, 2012
Submitted by: eal79
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Sep 07, 1998
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 18, 2011
Observation date: Jul 20, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 24, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Gordon Pratt & John F. Emmel)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 25, 1921
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 05, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jess Morton)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 14, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 13, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 30, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 14, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 14, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (G. Pratt & J. Emmel)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 25, 1921
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 20, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
- ‹ previous
- 2 of 11
- next ›