Acmon Blue
Common NameAcmon Blue
Scientific NameIcaricia acmon
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblue, orange, black
HabitatOpen fields, grasslands, chaparral, sagebrush scrub, forest edges
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California and east to the Rocky Mountains
Host Plantsbuckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), lupine (Lupinus spp.), clover (Trifolium spp.)
Flight PeriodMarch to October (multiple broods)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves or stems. Larvae are small, green, and often tended by ants (myrmecophilous). Pupation occurs on or near the ground.
Identification TipsMales are iridescent blue dorsally with a row of orange and black spots on the hindwing margin. Females are typically brownish with more prominent orange and black spots. The ventral hindwing has a distinct orange submarginal band with black spots.
Description
A small, vibrant blue butterfly with a furry blue body and white-fringed wings. The hindwings feature a distinctive row of orange and black submarginal spots.
