Everes amyntula amyntula

Western Tailed Blue

If there are tail-less hairstreaks, then why not a blue with tails? This character makes identification easy, except that the smaller eastern tailed blue (Everes comyntas) may rarely appear in parts of southern California (though apparently not as an established species). This blue typically flies in the spring/summer where Astragalus grows, with larvae entering the pods and eating the seeds. I've seen it in January along the coast, and there are autumn records as well.

I'm going with genus Everes instead of Cupido with Pratt, Emmel, and Paul Opler, but I have gone back and forth over the years.

Everes amyntula amyntula - Western Tailed Blue
A female Everes amyntula amyntula from Pt. Mugu State Park, January 12, 2006.
Everes amyntula amyntula - Western Tailed Blue
Male western tailed blue, from the Keen Camp Summit area in the San Jacintos not far from Idyllwild. April 17, 2021.
Everes amyntula amyntula - Western Tailed Blue
A female, also from along the forest service road at Keen Camp Summit. April 28, 2021.
Everes amyntula amyntula - Western Tailed-Blue
Everes amyntula amyntula, the western tailed blue. Wildhorse Creek Trail near Big Bear, May 19, 2006.
Caterpillar of Everes amyntula amyntula - Western Tailed Blue
The larvae of Everes amyntula feed in the seed pods of their Astragalus host plants. This one was found by Gordon Pratt; I photographed it on August 5, 2021.

©Dennis Walker