Shasta Blue
Common NameShasta Blue
Scientific NamePlebejus shasta
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)24
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgray, black, blue, orange
HabitatHigh-altitude meadows, rocky slopes, open pine forests, subalpine and alpine zones
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia south through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado and Utah, and in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges
Host PlantsLupinus, Astragalus
Flight PeriodJuly to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on various lupine and milkvetch species and are often tended by ants. The species typically overwinters as an egg or young larva.
Identification TipsKey identification features include its small size, the gray underside with black spots, and particularly the row of metallic blue-green spots ringed with orange and black on the hindwing margin.
Description
A small butterfly with a light gray underside marked with prominent black spots. The hindwing features a distinctive marginal row of metallic blue-green spots bordered by black and orange crescents.
