Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Arctic Blue
Plebejus glandon (de Prunner, 1798)


Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Geographically variable. Upperside of male gray-blue, female orange-brown; both sexes with dark cell spots on both wings. Underside hindwing with postmedian black spots lacking or enclosed by white patches.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 inches (2.2 - 2.6 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on leaves, bracts, or sepals of the host plant. Caterpillars or chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from early May to late September, mainly June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Possibly Diapensia lapponica, Dodecatheon, and Androsace septentionalis.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Bogs, tundra, gravelly hills, alpine fell-fields, and subalpine meadows.
Range: Holarctic. Alaska east to Newfoundland, south through the mountains of the West to Washington, northern Arizona, and northern New Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually of conservation concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Study conservation needs and implement if necessary.
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