Asher's Blue
Common NameAsher's Blue
Scientific NamePlebejus asherae
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgray, white, brown, black
HabitatRocky slopes, open woodlands, chaparral, sagebrush scrub
Geographic RangeWestern North America (California, Oregon, Nevada)
Host PlantsBuckwheat (*Eriogonum* spp.)
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants, primarily buckwheat. Larvae feed on leaves and flowers and are often associated with ants. Pupation occurs near the host plant, with one brood per year.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive mottled grayish-white underside with dark brown spots. Males have iridescent blue uppersides, while females are brown. Often found in dry, open habitats where host buckwheats grow.
Description
A small butterfly with a hairy gray body and antennae ringed in black and white. Its underside is mottled light gray and white with numerous irregular dark brown spots.
