Melissa Blue
Common NameMelissa Blue
Scientific NamePlebejus melissa
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblue, tan, orange, black, white
HabitatPrairies, meadows, open woodlands, sagebrush steppe, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico
Host PlantsLupinus, Astragalus, Medicago, Lotus, Thermopsis
Flight PeriodMay to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves or stems. Larvae feed on leaves and flowers, often tended by ants, and pupate near the ground. Overwinters as an egg or larva.
Identification TipsKey features for identification are the black spots ringed in white and the prominent submarginal orange band on the hindwing underside. Males are bright blue above, while females are duller blue or brownish.
Description
A small butterfly with iridescent blue uppersides (males) or brownish-blue (females), and a tan to grayish-brown underside marked with black spots ringed in white, and a distinctive submarginal band of orange spots on the hindwings.
