Lupine Blue
Plebejus lupini (Boisduval, 1869)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male lilac blue with wide dark borders; female dark brown. Band at hindwing outer margin wide, orange-red, in male may be divided into separate chevrons.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol near the host plants for females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers, which the caterpillars eat. Second-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: In the Sierra Nevada of California, one flight from June-August; elsewhere, several flights from March-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of perennial wild buckwheat including sulfur flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) and flat top (Eriogonum fasciculatum) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Alpine slopes, mountain meadows and slopes, prairies, rocky outcrops, chaparral, and sagebrush.
Range: Southwestern Canada south through much of mountainous and intermountain West and high plains to northern Mexico.
Conservation: Several populations, some unnamed, are highly local, and are of conservation concern.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Monitor status of populations, conserve habitats, and be vigilant for effects of exotic weeds.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 779 verified sightings
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 27, 2023
Observation date: May 15, 2023
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 17, 2023
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2023
Observation date: May 02, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2023
Observation date: Apr 21, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Gallatin County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: May 20, 2022
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Baca County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 15, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 05, 2023
Observation date: Dec 04, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 02, 2023
Observation date: May 12, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 24, 2022
Observation date: May 23, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 15, 2022
Observation date: Feb 21, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba