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 25 - 48 of 779 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 02, 2022
Observation date: May 25, 2022
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Yakima County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 04, 2022
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 05, 2022
Observation date: Mar 15, 2022
Submitted by: Emily Geest
Region: Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 04, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2021
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Boulder County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Dec 31, 2021
Observation date: May 19, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Oct 20, 2021
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 22, 2021
Observation date: Oct 08, 2021
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary