Lupine Blue
Common NameLupine Blue
Scientific NamePlebejus lupini
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)27
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblue, grey, orange, black, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, meadows, sagebrush flats, chaparral, rocky slopes
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south to Baja California
Host PlantsLupinus spp.
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves or stems. Larvae feed on lupine and are often tended by ants. Overwinters as an egg or larva.
Identification TipsKey features include the blue-grey upperside, the bright orange submarginal band of spots on the hindwings (each with a black dot), and the prominent white fringe.
Description
A small butterfly with a blue-grey upperside, prominent white fringe, and a distinctive band of orange spots, each with a black center, along the hindwing margin.
