Rita Dotted-Blue
Euphilotes rita (Barnes & McDunnough, 1916)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male bright lilac-blue with dark medium-wide borders; corner of hindwing has a small orange patch and small marginal spots. Upperside of female brown with broad orange marginal band. Underside of both sexes off-white with distinct black spots; orange band on hindwing margin continuous.
Wing Span: 11/16 - 7/8 inches (1.7 - 2.2 cm).
Life History: Rita Dotted-Blues stay near their host plants. Males patrol around the plants all day to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers of the host. Caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits, and are tended by ants.
Flight: One flight from July to late September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild buckwheat species including Wright\'s buckwheat, Effuse Buckwheat, and others.
Adult Food: Nectar from Eriogonum flowers.
Habitat: Arid areas such as desert foothills and shortgrass prairie.
Range: Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Also found in northern Mexico.
Conservation: Some populations are of concern because of limited habitat or threats to habitats.
NCGR: G3, G4 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range OR Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Some subspecies are T2 or T2,T3.
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity. Monitor invasion by exotic weeds, cattle grazing [removal of cattle grazing may be detrimental], and disruption by off-road vehicles.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 85 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/rita_blue_img_4486_5.jpg?itok=NRxvzWkh)
Observation date: Sep 11, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Pinal County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 06, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/eritaritasevilleta20150815dsc08786cropped.jpg?itok=HUAwQBXe)
Observation date: Aug 15, 2015
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 11, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_20200801_004421102.jpg?itok=42FtS7VQ)
Observation date: Aug 10, 2017
Submitted by: Mike Hofmann
Region: Conejos County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 15, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_2310.jpg?itok=lxgWWS4p)
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: San Juan County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/rita082518a_1.jpg?itok=HzVVB9nT)
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 25, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/rita_blue-big_0.jpg?itok=aW8zbhg_)
Observation date: Jun 27, 2013
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Feb 12, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/ritablue081013b.jpg?itok=Bpj3wlMN)
Observation date: Aug 10, 2013
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 12, 2013
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/rita_blue_2012-09-03_31_gary_jue_cropped_0.jpg?itok=NjAQQf0U)
Observation date: Sep 03, 2012
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 02, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/rita_blue_2012-09-03_46_gary_jue_cropped.jpg?itok=1vadtjIC)
Observation date: Sep 03, 2012
Submitted by: Gary Jue
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 02, 2012
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Observation date: Sep 17, 2004
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Dec 06, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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Observation date: Aug 20, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 23, 1997
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
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Observation date: Aug 16, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (G. S. Forbes)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Aug 30, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Emmel & O. Shields)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 01, 1953
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/colorad.jpg?itok=2OZj_rGS)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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Observation date: Aug 17, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Janet Chu)
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Janet Chu)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
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Observation date: Aug 07, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Janet Chu)
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Aug 28, 2009
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Observation date: Aug 13, 2009
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: Emery County, Utah, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Aug 28, 2009
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Observation date: Aug 14, 2009
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Aug 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Sep 17, 2004
Submitted by: John Saba (John Saba)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Dec 06, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kilian Roever)
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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