Lycaenidae: Coppers, Hairstreaks and Blues

Subfamily Lycaeninae — Coppers
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Tailed Copper page Tharsalea arota arota - Tailed Copper
· (Ribes spp. inc. californicum var hesperium and R. quercetorum) - currant and gooseberry (Glossulariaceae)
link to Lycaena arota nubila page Tharsalea arota nubila - 'Cloudy' Tailed Copper
· Ribes aureum var gracillimum - golden currant, prob. R. californicum (Glossulariaceae).
Link to Tharsalea hermes copper page Tharsalea hermes - Hermes Copper
· Rhamnus crocea - redberry (Rhamnaceae)
Link to Great Copper page Tharsalea xanthoides xanthoides - Great Copper
· Rumex spp. - docks (Polygonaceae)
Link to Gorgon Copper page Tharsalea gorgon gorgon - Gorgon Copper
· Eriogonum elongatum - long-stemmed buckwheat (Polygonaceae) in so. Cal.
no photos yet Tharsalea gorgon micropunctata - Small Spotted Gorgon Copper
Eriogonum elongatum - long-stemmed buckwheat (Polygonaceae)
Link to Tharsalea heteronea clara page of butterfly photographs Tharsalea heteronea clara - Bright Blue Copper
· Eriogonum heermannii is preferred, though some use E. umbellatum var. munzii, and possibly E. fasciculatum (Polygonaceae).
Link to Purplish Copper page Tharsalea helloides - Purplish Copper
· Docks, sorrels and other Polygonum spp.inc. Willow Dock (Polygonaceae)
Others
• Ken D. has a Tharsalea xanthoides nr obsolescens from Death Valley that "appears" to extend into parts of Kern Co. True obsolescens isn't within my southern California boundaries. At stake is some reduced spotting on the underside of males.

Subfamily Theclinae — Hairstreaks
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Golden Hairstreak page Habrodais grunus grunus - Golden Hairstreak
· Canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis)
no photos yet Habrodais grunus lorquini - Golden Hairstreak
Canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis); SLO Co. and north into Oregon
Link to Atlides halesus corcorani page Atlides halesus corcorani - Great Purple Hairstreak
· Mistletoe species inc. Phoradendron californicum, P. bolleanum
Link to Behr's Hairstreak page Satyrium behrii behrii - Behr's Hairstreak
· Purshia tridentata
Link to California Hairstreak page Satyrium californica californica - California Hairstreak
· Oaks (Quercus), possibly ceanothus.
Link to Desert Sylvan Hairstreak page Satyrium dryope desertorum - 'Desert' Sylvan Hairstreak
· Willows (Salix)
no photos yet Satyrium auretorum auretorum - Gold-hunter's Hairstreak
Oaks
Link to Gold-hunter's Hairstreak page Satyrium auretorum spadix - Gold-hunter's Hairstreak
· Various oaks (Quercus spp.)
no photos yet Satyrium auretorum fumosum - Santa Monica Mtns Hairstreak
Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia)
Link to Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak page Satyrium tetra - Mountain Mahogany Hairstreak
· Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus betuloides)
Link to Hedgerow Hairstreak page Satyrium saepium chalcis - 'Bronzed' Hedgerow Hairstreak
· Ceanothus
link to Satyrium saepium caliginosum page Satyrium saepium caliginosum - 'Dark' Hedgerow Hairstreak
· Ceanothus cuneatus var fasciculatum - Coastal SLO and S.Barb. Counties
link to page with Satyrium saepium chlorophora photos and information Satyrium saepium chlorophora - 'Purplish' Hedgerow Hairstreak
· Ceanothus
Link to Satyrium saepium subaridum page Satyrium saepium subaridum - 'Desert' Hedgerow Hairstreak
· Ceanothus greggii
link to photos and information about Chlorostrymon simaethis sarita Chlorostrymon simaethis sarita - Silver-banded Hairstreak
· Cardiospermum halicacabum - balloon vine
Link to Callophrys dumetorum perplexa page Callophrys dumetorum perplexa - Perplexing Hairstreak
· Various buckwheats (Eriogonum), deerweed (Acmispon glaber)
link to web page with photographs of - and very little information about - the superplexing hairstreak Callophrys dumetorum superperplexa - Superperplexing Hairstreak
· Eriogonum fasciculatum
no photos yet Callophrys viridis - Coastal Green Hairstreak
Not sure which buckwheat it uses in SLO Co. Status controversial.
no photos yet Callophrys sheridanii comstocki - Comstock's Hairstreak
Eriogonum heermannii
link to page with photos of Mitoura siva siva Mitoura siva siva - Siva Juniper Hairstreak
· Junipers
Link to Siva Juniper Hairstreak page Mitoura siva juniperaria - Juniper Hairstreak
· California juniper (Juniperus californica)
no photos yet Mitoura siva mansfieldi - Mansfield's Hairstreak
Junipers; Kern/SLO/SB/Ventura Cos.
Link to Siva near chalcosiva Juniper Hairstreak page Mitoura siva near chalcosiva - Juniper Hairstreak (San Bernardino Mtns. population)
· Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis).
Link to Loki Juniper Hairstreak page Mitoura loki loki - Loki Juniper Hairstreak or Skinner's Hairstreak
· California juniper (Juniperus californica)
Link to Thorne's Juniper Hairstreak page Mitoura loki thornei - Thorne's Juniper Hairstreak
· Tecate cypress (Cupressus forbesii)
Link to Nelson's hairstreak page Mitoura nelsoni - Nelson's Hairstreak
· Incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrans)
no photos yet Mitoura muiri - Muir's Hairstreak
Sargent cypress (Hesperocyparis sargentii) (Cupressaceae)
Link to Loranthomitoura spinetorum page Loranthomitoura spinetorum spinetorum - Thicket Hairstreak
· Arceuthobium campylopodum - golden or pine dwarf mistletoe on pines
Link to Brown Elfin page Incisalia augustinus iroides - Western Brown Elfin
· Many across several families. Species of Ceanothus seem to be favorites.
link to page about the Desert Elfin butterfly Incisalia fotis mojavensis - Desert Elfin
· Purshia stansburyana
no photos yet Incisalia mossii doudoroffi - Doudoroff's Elfin
Sedum spathulifolium (Crassulaceae)
Link to Moss's Elfin Hidakupa page Incisalia mossii hidakupa - San Gabriel Mtns (Moss's) Elfin
· Sedum spathulifolium (Crassulaceae)
Link to Western Pine Elfin page Incisalia eryphon eryphon - Western Pine Elfin
· Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) and certain other pines
Link to Gray Hairstreak page Strymon melinus pudica - Gray Hairstreak
· Many, inc. buckwheats, lotus, mallows.
Link to Strymon avalona page Strymon avalona - Avalon Scrub Hairstreak
· Acmispon glaber and A. argophyllus.
link to Strymon istapa clenchi page Strymon istapa clenchi - Mallow Scrub Hairstreak
· Rock hibiscus (Hibiscus denudatus)
Link to Leda Ministreak page Ministrymon leda - Leda Ministreak
· Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), catclaw (Senegalia greggii) in the Fabaceae family.
Others
• Ken Davenport lists an undescribed Mitoura/Callophrys siva inner coast range segregate.
 

Subfamily Polyommatinae - Blues
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Leptotes marina - Marine Blue - page Leptotes marina - Marine Blue
· Commonly Plumbago auriculata in cities; elsewhere various legumes inc. Astragalus spp. and false indigo
Link to Western Pygmy Blue page Brephidium exilis - Western Pygmy Blue
· Many, including several species of saltbush inc. Atriplex canescens, A. lentiformis, and A. polycarpa, plus Russian thistle - Salsola tragus - and more in the Chenopodiaceae, as well as several in the iceplant family (Aizoaceae).
Link to Everes/Cupido amyntula page Everes amyntula amyntula - Western Tailed Blue
· Astragalus spp.
no photos yet Everes amyntula nesiotes - Western Tailed Blue
Astragalus spp.? Santa Rosa Island
Link to Echo Blue photographs page Celastrina echo echo - Echo Blue
· Ceanothus leucodermis, chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), several others
Link to Celastrina echo cinerea page Celastrina echo cinerea - 'Cinereous' Echo Blue
· Rock spiraea (Petrophytum caespitosum) is mentioned by the Emmels (1973)
Link to Hemiargus ceraunus gyas page Hemiargus ceraunus gyas - 'Edward's' Ceraunus Blue
· Several inc. honey mesquite, Senegalia greggii and locoweeds (Fabaceae)
Link to Echiargus isola page Echinargus isola - Reakirt's Blue
· Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), screwbean mesquite (P. pubescens), catclaw (Senegalia greggii) (Fabaceae)
Link to Sonoran Blue page Philotes sonorensis sonorensis - Sonoran Blue
· Dudleya lanceolata, D. saxosa, D. cymosa, abramsii, possibly other Dudleya spp. (Crassulaceae)
Link to page of photographs of the Arrowhead Blue butterfly Glaucopsyche piasus piasus - Arrowhead Blue
· Lupines
Link to Coastal Arrowhead Blue page of photographs Glaucopsyche piasus sagittigera - 'Coastal' Arrowhead Blue
· Lupinus excubitus
Link to photographs of Glaucopsyche piasus umbrosa - Smoky Arrowhead Blue Glaucopsyche piasus umbrosa - Smoky Arrowhead Blue
· Lupinus formosus
Link to Glaucopsyche piasus gabrielina page Glaucopsyche piasus gabrielina - 'San Gabriel Mtns' Arrowhead Blue
· Lupinus elatus
link to Arrowhead Blue photographs, subspecies excubita Glaucopsyche piasus excubita - Bush Lupine Arrowhead Blue
· Usually Lupinus excubitus
link to page with photos and information about Glaucopsyche lygdamus deserticola Glaucopsyche lygdamus deserticola - Eastern Mojave Silvery Blue
· Astragalus lentiginosus var. fremontii; Mojave Preserve ranges and vic. into NV
Link to page with photographs of Silvery Blue butterfly - Glaucopsyche lygdamus astralis Glaucopsyche lygdamus australis - 'Southern' Silvery Blue
· Usually deerweed (Acmispon glaber)
Link to Palos Verdes Blue butterfly page - Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis - Palos Verdes Blue
· Coast locoweed (Astragalus trichopodus lonchus) and deerweed (Acmispon glaber)
no photos yet Glaucopsyche lygdamus sabulosa - Central Coast Silvery Blue
· Deerweed (Acmispon glaber)
no photos yet Glaucopsyche lygdamus pseudoxerces - False Xerces Blue
Deerweed? Santa Rosa Island
no photos yet Glaucopsyche lygdamus incognitus - Unrecognized Silvery Blue
Deerweed. Gets into north SLO Co.; TL is in Santa Clara Co.
Photographs and info about the Small Blue butterfly - Euphilotes speciosa speciosa Euphilotes (formerly Philotiella) speciosa speciosa - Small Blue
· Punctured bract (Oxytheca perfoliata), trilobia (Oxytheca trilobata), kidneyleaf buckwheat (Eriogonum reniforme)
Photographs and info about the Small Blue butterfly - Euphilotes speciosa purisima - from Santa Barbara county Euphilotes speciosa purisima - Small Blue
· Mucronea californica; known from Santa Barbara Co. north of Lompoc.
link to El Segundo Blue Butterfly page Euphilotes allyni - El Segundo Blue
· Eriogonum parvifolium
Link to Euphilotes glaucon comstocki page Euphilotes glaucon comstocki - Comstock's Blue
· Eriogonum umbellatum
Link to Euphilotes bernardino bernardino page Euphilotes bernardino bernardino - Bernardino Blue
· Eriogonum fasciculatum
Link to Euphilotes bernardino inyomontana page Euphilotes bernardino inyomontana - Inyo Mountains Blue
· Eriogonum fasciculatum
link to page with photos and information about Euphilotes bernardino martini Euphilotes bernardino martini - Martin's Blue
· Eriogonum fasciculatum
no photos yet Euphilotes ellisi euromojavensis - Ellis's Blue
Eriogonum heermannii, microthecum, and E. plumatella.
no photos yet Euphilotes ellisi avawatz - Ellis's Blue
Eriogonum heermannii
link to page with photos of Euphilotes baueri vernalis Euphilotes baueri vernalis - Vernal Blue (Coxey Meadow)
· Eriogonum kennedyi on pebble plains
Link to page for Euphilotes mojave mojave Euphilotes mojave mojave - Mojave Blue
· Eriogonum pusillum, reniforme, nudum
Link to Euphilotes enoptes tildeni page Euphilotes enoptes tildeni - Tilden's Dotted Blue
· Eriogonum nudum mainly, but four others throughout its range are known.
no photos yet Euphilotes enoptes cryptorufes - 'Cryptorufes' Dotted Blue
Eriogonum davidsonii. This is a very rare butterfly.
no photos yet Euphilotes enoptes langstoni - Langston's Blue
Eriogonum nudum and E. kennedyi
Link to the page for the populations of nominate Euphilotes dammersi Euphilotes dammersi dammersi - Dammers' Dotted Blue
· Eriogonum wrightii var membranaceum, E. wrightii var nodosum at Cactus Spring Trail
no photos yet Euphilotes dammersi opacapulla - Dark-shaded Dammer's Blue
Eriogonum nidularum, E. plumatella; flies mid-Sept to mid-Oct in E. Mojave
Link to photographs of Euphilotes pallescens elvirae Euphilotes pallescens elvirae - 'Elvira' Pallid Blue
· Eriogonum plumatella and microthecum
Link to San Emigdio Blue (Plebejus emigdionis) page Plebulina emigdionis - San Emigdio Blue
· Atriplex canescens in association with ant and scale insect
link to webpage for Icaricia saepiolus aehaja - the greenish blue butterfly Icaricia saepiolus aehaja - Greenish Blue
· Clovers
Link to Icaricia saepiolus hilda page Icaricia saepiolus hilda - 'Hilda' Greenish Blue
· Cow's clover (Trifolium wormskioldii), longstalk clover (T. longipes), carpet clover (T. monanthum)
Link to photographs of Icaricia icarioides evius - Boisduval's Blue Icaricia icarioides evius - 'Evius' Boisduval's Blue
· Lupines inc. excubitus
no photos yet Icaricia icarioides santana - Trabuco Blue
Lupinus excubitus
no photos yet Icaricia icarioides moroensis - Morro Bay Blue
Bush lupines (Lupinus chamissonis) in the sand along coastal dunes in SLO and No. Santa Barbara Cos.
no photos yet Icaricia icarioides atascadero - Atascadero Blue
Lupinus excubitus
Link to photographs of Icaricia icarioides eosierra Icaricia icarioides eosierra - Eastern Sierra Blue
· Lupinus excubitus
Link to Icaricia acmon acmon page Icaricia acmon - Acmon Blue
· Many, inc. species of Acmispon, Eriogonum and Astragalus
no photos yet Icaricia lupini texanus - Texan Blue
E. Mojave; may actually be an acmon subspecies
Link to page with photographs of Icaricia chlorina Icaricia chlorina chlorina - Green Blue
· Eriogonum umbellatum
no photos yet Icaricia chlorina argentata - Silvered Green Blue
Eriogonum umbellatum - E. Mojave
Links to Icaricia monticola page of photographs Icaricia monticola - Clemence's Blue
· Usually California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum)
Link to page for the Veined Blue - Plebejus neurona Icaricia neurona - Veined Blue
· Eriogonum wrightii var subscaposum and - E. kennedyi
link to page with photographs and information about the Melissa Blue butterfly Plebejus melissa paradoxa - 'Orange-Margined' Melissa Blue
· Often lotus plants such as Spanish Lotus, a.k.a. American bird's foot trefoil (Acmispon americanus); other Fabaceae family plants inc. lupines.
Others
• Euphilotes bernardino Coastal seg. - Undescribed blue on Eriogonum cinereum.
• Euphilotes bernardino nr garthi - Point Loma Blue on E. fasciculatum. Undescribed but listed in Systematics.
• Ken D. mentions two populations of undescribed Silvery Blues: one on the So. Sierra west slope, and the other SE of the Sierras.
• Gordon Pratt has discussed Euphilotes enoptes complex butterflies from the Big Bear region, inc. a multiple-brooded entity at Baldwin Lake on E. kennedyi and a rare Arrastre Creek blue on E. davidsonii that doesn't fly most years.
• According to John Emmel, the Arrowhead Blue I found north of Big Bear is Glaucopsyche piasus nr. sagittigera. It uses Lupinus andersonii as larval host.
• Icaricia saepiolus aureolus and Philotes sonorensis extinctus are extinct.
 

©Dennis Walker