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 49 - 72 of 1191 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: pgericks
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 23, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 10, 2024
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: Cassie M
Region: Montrose County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: dfagan746
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 19, 2024
Observation date: Apr 27, 2024
Submitted by: icosahedron
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 19, 2024
Observation date: Jun 10, 2024
Submitted by: Akuniholm
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: MikeandShelley
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2021
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Ouray County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 07, 2024
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
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