Moss's Elfin
Common NameMoss's Elfin
Scientific NameCallophrys mossii
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyTheclinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Primary Colorsbrown, reddish-brown, dark brown
HabitatRocky outcrops, cliffs, canyons, and dry, rocky slopes where host plants grow.
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon, California, and into parts of Nevada and Utah.
Host PlantsSedum spathulifolium, Sedum lanceolatum, Sedum oreganum
Flight PeriodMarch to May
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnivoltine, with one brood per year. Eggs are laid on stonecrop host plants, and larvae feed on the leaves. Pupae overwinter, often camouflaged among detritus or in rock crevices.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, overall dark brown appearance, and the characteristic mottled reddish-brown hindwing underside with a white fringe. It is typically found in association with its stonecrop host plants in rocky habitats.
Description
A small, dark brown butterfly with a mottled reddish-brown and dark brown underside, often featuring a distinct white fringe along the hindwing margin.
