Euphilotes speciosa purisima

Small Blue

This population is best-known from a patch of Mucronea californica at the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County. The type locality is actually a few miles from there at "Harris Grade at Burton Mesa Boulevard, north of Lompoc". It was named by Richard Priestaf and John Emmel in the Systematics book (pp.283-4). They distinguish this subspecies from nominate speciosa by its larger size, bolder spotting on the ventral side of the wings, and darker ground color on the dorsal side of both sexes.

Euphilotes speciosa purisima - small blue butterfly from Lompoc
On a cool day at the Mission, I found just one of these small blues flying. May 27, 2023.
Euphilotes speciosa purisima - small blue butterfly from Lompoc
Same as above, taking nectar on horkelia.
Mucronea californica from La Purisima Mission
The larval food plant, Mucronea californica, does well in a particular area at the State Historic Park. This plant is in the Polygonaceae (buckwheat) family, not surprising for a Euphilotes blue.

©Dennis Walker