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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 846 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 10, 2018
Submitted by: coreyk
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 14, 2018
Observation date: May 17, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: May 13, 2018
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2016
Submitted by: donahilkey
Region: Rio Blanco County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 24, 2018
Observation date: Jul 14, 2012
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Butte County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 05, 2017
Submitted by: joann.sailmarip...
Region: Gem County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
