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 829 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 17, 2024
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 18, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2024
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 23, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 04, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 04, 2023
Observation date: May 29, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 03, 2023
Observation date: Oct 17, 2023
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 19, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: twofried
Region: San Juan County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: natureali
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: natureali
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: MJKrotzer
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
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