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 474 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 06, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Wallowa County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: May 04, 2017
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 25, 2017
Observation date: Jun 22, 2016
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2017
Observation date: May 01, 2016
Submitted by: richtrebbien
Region: Ada County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: May 14, 2016
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Jun 01, 2016
Observation date: Apr 05, 2016
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 07, 2016
Observation date: Jun 22, 2015
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 10, 2015
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: mcash70
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Oct 19, 2015
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 06, 2015
Observation date: May 19, 2012
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 28, 2014
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 12, 2013
Observation date: Jun 08, 2013
Submitted by: Nancy Lea Sandy
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jun 12, 2013
Observation date: Jul 04, 2004
Submitted by: tjantscher
Region: Carbon County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jan 10, 2013
Observation date: Jul 18, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 11, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Thompson)
Region: Lander County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 17, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John B. Vernon)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 21, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 19, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston)
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Thompson)
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 11, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ray Stanford)
Region: Storey County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 09, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K Hansen-S. Mattoon)
Region: Lander County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 04, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Thompson)
Region: Lander County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 22, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 09, 1997
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Vernon-R. Langston)
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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