Callophrys mossii hidakupa, the San Gabriel Mountains Elfin, at Glendora Ridge Road near Mt. Baldy. April 26, 2009.

These are somewhat similar in appearance to the common Brown Elfin (especially if a bit worn), but I noticed that Hidakupa is a much weaker flyer. Same place, April 26, 2009.

It took a lot of patience to find these. This was my eight or ninth attempt, and I was at this spot for about fifteen minutes and about to leave when the first flew past me. I saw a total of four in about an hour. Same place, same day.

One more from the same day. These were first found not far from here by John Emmel and they were formally described in the Systematics book in 1998.

This is the larva of Callophrys (Incisalia) mossii hidakupa, the San Gabriel Mountains Elfin, photographed May 31st, 2008. The host plant is Sedum spathulifolium, and this larva was chewing the epidermis of the flower stem.