Aricia lupini
Encyclopedia
The Lupine Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae
family. It is found from south-western Canada
, south through much of mountainous and intermountain west and high plains to northern Mexico
.
The wingspan
is 22–29 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August in one generation in the Sierra Nevada of California. Elsewhere, there are several generations from March to July.
The larvae feed on Eriogonum umbellatum
and Eriogonum fasciculatum
. Adults feed on flower nectar.
The hairs of the caterpillars can cause skin irritation (Urticaria
).
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
family. It is found from south-western Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, south through much of mountainous and intermountain west and high plains to northern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 22–29 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August in one generation in the Sierra Nevada of California. Elsewhere, there are several generations from March to July.
The larvae feed on Eriogonum umbellatum
Eriogonum umbellatum
Eriogonum umbellatum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name sulphurflower buckwheat, or simply sulphur flower. It is native to western North America from California to Colorado to central Canada, where it is abundant and found in many habitats...
and Eriogonum fasciculatum
Eriogonum fasciculatum
Eriogonum fasciculatum is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common names California buckwheat and Eastern Mojave buckwheat. This common shrub is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, where it grows on scrubby slopes and in chaparral and dry washes in a number of...
. Adults feed on flower nectar.
The hairs of the caterpillars can cause skin irritation (Urticaria
Urticaria
Urticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...
).
Subspecies
- Aricia lupini lupini (California)
- Aricia lupini monticola (California)
- Aricia lupini chlorina
- Aricia lupini texanus (Arizona)
- Aricia lupini argentata (California)