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 97 - 113 of 113 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Churchill County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Baja California, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lyon County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Yuma County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Imperial County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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