Family:Lycaenidae
Family
Description:
Range:
This species occurs at high elevations, from southern British Columbia to New
Mexico, and from central Oregon to central California. In Idaho, it occurs in portions of the southern half of the
state.
Habitat:
It can be found at high elevations, typically in meadows,
along streams, and on rocky slopes.
Diet:
Caterpillar:
Caterpillars feed on the leaves of certain members of the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae),
including alpine sorrel (Rumex spp.) and mountain sorrel (Oxyria
spp.).
Adult:
Butterflies drink flower nectar.
Ecology:
There is one generation of caterpillars each summer. Each
caterpillar undergoes four stages of growth, called instars. Caterpillars overwinter in a
physiological state called diapause. Adults generally fly from May or June
until August or September.
Reproduction:
Males perch to
wait for receptive females, or may occasionally actively patrol
for them. Females lay eggs singly on or near host
plants
.
Conservation:
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Global Rank: | G5; populations are widespread, abundant, and secure. |
Ferris, C. D. and F. M. Brown. (eds.) 1981. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. Univ. of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, 442 pp.
Opler, P. A., H. Pavulaan, and R. E. Stanford. 1995. Butterflies of North America. Jamestown, North Dakota, USA: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm (Version 05Nov98).
Opler, P. A. and A. B.Wright. 1999. A Field Guide to the Western Butterflies. Second Edition. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York, USA, 540 pp.
Pyle, R. M. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, New York, USA, 924 pp.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, 583 pp.
Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western U.S.A. Butterflies (Including Adjacent Parts of Canada and Mexico). Published by authors, Denver, Colorado, USA, 275 pp.