Arrowhead Blue
Glaucopsyche piasus (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Checkered fringes. Upperside of male violet blue with a wide border; female duller. Underside gray with many small black spots. Hindwing with postmedian band of white "arrowheads" pointing inward.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.9 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day near host plants. Females lay eggs on flower buds of host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from March-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Lupine (Lupinus) and milkvetch (Astragalus) species in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Coastal dunes and lowlands in California; mountains elsewhere: scrub, openings in woods, roadsides, trails, meadows, clearings, streamsides.
Range: Local and uncommon. British Columbia and southern Alberta south through the mountains of western North America to southern California, northern Arizona, and western Nebraska.
Conservation: Populations in southern California need assessment; elsewhere populations are probably not in jeopardy.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 511 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 20, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: May 12, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Christensen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 02, 2022
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Skamania County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: May 26, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Jun 16, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 09, 2022
Submitted by: cklindsey
Region: Garfield County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: May 15, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 16, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 02, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2021
Submitted by: tideport
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2021
Observation date: May 18, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 19, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: May 14, 2021
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 28, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2008
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Mar 18, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 18, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 10, 2019
Observation date: Jun 16, 2019
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 15, 2019
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 26, 2019
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 13, 2019
Observation date: May 28, 2019
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 06, 2019
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