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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 327 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jul 19, 2009
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 23, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: Jul 20, 2010
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and EviBuckner-Opler )
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 24, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Bagdonas)
Region: Hot Springs County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (P.A. Opler)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jul 02, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 20, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jerry Powell)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 03, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock; R. Wells)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 06, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jerry Powell)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 16, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. F. Emmel)
Region: Modoc County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 22, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ralph Wells)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 11, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. S. Buckett)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 08, 1949
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Robert Langston)
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 26, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Powell, S. Buckett)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 06, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John F. Emmel)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 21, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jerry Powell)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 18, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Amador County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 29, 1952
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jerry Powell & M. McKenney)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 01, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sterling O. Mattoon)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 04, 1963
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (David L. Bauer)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1969
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John F. Emmel)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 10, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jerry Powell)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 18, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (N. La Due)
Region: Amador County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
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