Euphilotes pallescens

Euphilotes pallescens, the pale blue, pallid blue or pallid dotted blue, is a species of butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the United States in southeastern California, Nevada, southern Utah and northern Arizona.[2]

Euphilotes pallescens
Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Euphilotes
Species:
E. pallescens
Binomial name
Euphilotes pallescens
(Tilden & Downey, 1955)[1]
Synonyms
  • Philotes pallescens Tilden & Downey, 1955
  • Euphilotes rita pallescens

The wingspan is 16–21 mm. The upperside of the males is pale blue, while the upperside of the females is grayish brown with gray overscales on the wing bases. The underside is almost white with black spots. There usually is an orange marginal hindwing band. Adults are on wing from July to September in one generation per year. They feed on the flower nectar of Eriogonum species.

The larvae feed on the flowers and fruits of Eriogonum species, including E. kearneyi, E. microthecum and E. plumatella. The larvae are tended by ants.

Subspecies

References
  1. Euphilotes at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera
  2. Butterflies and Moths of North America


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