Shasta Blue
Plebejus shasta (W.H. Edwards, 1862)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male lilac blue with a wide dark border; female darker, may have orange band at outer margin of hindwing. Both sexes with dark cell bars on fore- and hindwings. Underside of both sexes gray with black postmedian spots; other spots are dark gray. Hindwing outer margin with iridescent green spots capped by a light band.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 3 cm).
Life History: Males fly just above the ground to search for females. Eggs are laid singly on leaves of host plants; caterpillars feed on leaves and flowers. Where found above timberline, these butterflies require 2 years to mature, spending their first winter as eggs and the second winter as mature caterpillars.
Flight: One brood from June-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various Astragalus, Lupinus, and Trifolium species of the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Cushion-plant communities in forest openings, sagebrush hills, high plains, prairies, and alpine fell-fields.
Range: High elevations from Washington east to North Dakota and Nebraska; south to central California and Colorado.
Conservation: Not usually of conservation concern.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 307 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 14, 2018
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2016
Submitted by: coreyk
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2016
Observation date: Aug 06, 2016
Submitted by: coreyk
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2016
Observation date: Jul 03, 2013
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 06, 2013
Observation date: Jul 02, 2009
Submitted by: tjantscher
Region: Carbon County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Jan 10, 2013
Observation date: Jul 01, 1950
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Foyd & June Preston)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 29, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 12, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. F. Lesser)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 21, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Anna Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 10, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (D. E. Allen)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 06, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce O'Hara)
Region: Carson City County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 17, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. F. Lesser)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 25, 1965
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Anna Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 28, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Douglas County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 15, 1928
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jean Gunder)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 05, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Doug Mullins)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 24, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Lincoln County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 11, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Pasko)
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 03, 2011
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Kertell)
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Sep 07, 1998
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2011
Observation date: Jul 19, 1909
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 11, 1967
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Emmel, Shields & Ellis)
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 26, 1969
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Callaghan)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2011
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