Small Dotted-Blue
Philotiella speciosa (Hy. Edwards, 1877)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Tiny. Upperside of male pale lavender-blue with a narrow dark border; female is all brown. Underside white with large spots on forewing, small spots on hindwing.
Wing Span: 5/8 - 7/8 inch (1.6 - 2.2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day to search for females. Eggs are laid singly on membranous sheaths beneath the flowers. Caterpillars eat Eriogonum flowers and the fleshy growths at the joints of Oxytheca. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from April-May.
Caterpillar Hosts: Oxytheca and Eriogonum species in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar, usually that of the caterpillar hosts.
Habitat: Deserts, edges of dry desert lakes, stream edges in foothills.
Range: Local and uncommon. Western Nevada, eastern and southeastern California.
Conservation: Populations outside of the Mojave Desert region should be conserved, especially in the Sierra Nevada foothills (subspecies bohartorum).
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Determine effects of exotic plants and fire on extant populations.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 110 verified sightings
Observation date: May 17, 2023
Submitted by: docentgal
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 22, 2023
Observation date: Apr 04, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Imperial County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 01, 2023
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Apr 23, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 17, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Doug Mullins)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 09, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert L. Langston)
Region: Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 14, 1969
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 22, 1986
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: May 02, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 17, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 03, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Doug Mullens)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 04, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 21, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Lane)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 30, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 17, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David Bauer)
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: May 22, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David Bauer)
Region: Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Apr 04, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Apr 30, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Apr 21, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Lane)
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 22, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John G. Pasko)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
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