Glaucon Blue
Common NameGlaucon Blue
Scientific NamePlebejus melissa
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)28
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale grey, black, orange, blue
HabitatPrairies, meadows, sagebrush flats, open woodlands, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from southern Canada to Mexico
Host PlantsAstragalus, Lupinus, Lotus
Flight PeriodMay to October
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are typically green, often tended by ants (myrmecophilous). Pupation occurs near the ground, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsDistinguished by the combination of black spots on a pale underside and the prominent orange submarginal band on the hindwing. Males have a bright blue upperside, while females can be blue (Glaucon form) or brown.
Description
A small butterfly with a pale greyish-white underside, featuring numerous black spots ringed with white, and a distinctive orange submarginal band on the hindwing.
