Boisduval's Blue
Plebejus icarioides (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male lilac-blue with dark borders. Female may be brown, or blue with wide dark borders. Below, black or white postmedian spots are larger on forewing than on hindwing.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.9 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day near host plants for females. Eggs are laid on new growth of host plants. Caterpillars feed first on leaves, then flowers and seedpods. Caterpillars produce a sugary secretion which is eaten by the ants that protect them. Second-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: April-August depending on location.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various lupine species (Lupinus) in the pea family.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including Eriogonum and various composites.
Habitat: Forest clearings and edges, prairie, sagebrush, chaparral, coastal dunes, fields.
Range: British Columbia east to the western edge of the Great Plains, south to New Mexico, Arizona, southern California, and Baja California.
Conservation: The Mission Blue, subspecies missionensis, is endangered in California. Loss of native grassland habitat and invasion of woody species has restricted the butterfly to 4 areas on the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula. The largest remaining population is protected in San Bruno Mountain County Park, where monitoring of the butterfly population and control of invasive species continues. Plebeius icarioides missionensis has The Nature Conservancy rank of T1 - Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals), or because of some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable to extinction. (Critically endangered throughout its range).
NCGR:
Management Needs: Maintain or improve habitat and ensure adequate host and nectar plants for all rare populations.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1121 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: gdofseattle
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Oct 11, 2023
Submitted by: katrinaoller
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Patton
Region: Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2018
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: dingoqueen
Region: Box Elder County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2017
Submitted by: lyssbird
Region: Rich County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2014
Submitted by: DrBugs
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 25, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: May 17, 2023
Submitted by: JenniferLupine
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: regina rochefort
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
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