Euphilotes bernardino inyomontana

Inyo Mountains Blue

Euphilotes bernardino inyomontana was named in 1998 in a major revision of the enoptes and battoides complexes by Gordon Pratt and John Emmel (p. 223-225 in the Systematics volume). The type locality is the south end of the Panamint Range, and it got its subspecific name based on the fact it flies in the mountains of Inyo County. But it ranges into eastern Kern County, as at Walker Pass, and basically is situated between nominate bernardino to the west and south, and martini to the east. Pratt and Emmel say that while individuals vary and resemble these other Bernardino blues, "the population as a whole ... is distinct." The details are spelled out in the article. Suffice to say, photos alone won't be sufficient to identify these blues. Locality, timing, and plant association help a lot.

Depending on elevation, this butterfly flies from late April to early July. As a Euphilotes blue, it is tightly associated with its larval food plant, in this case Eriogonum fasciculatum (California buckwheat). It has a single brood, and overwinters as a chrysalis.