Eastern Pine Elfin
Callophrys niphon Hübner, [1819]
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Tailless. Upperside dark brown; female with dark borders. Underside banded with dark brown; hindwing with submarginal gray band outside row of black crescents.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch on tops of pine trees in the sun to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on new needles of young trees; caterpillars feed on the needles. Chrysalids hibernate and adults emerge in the spring.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various hard pines including scrub pine (Pinus virginiana) and jack pine (P. banksiana), and the soft white pine (P. strobus).
Adult Food: Nectar of many different flowers including blueberry, cinquefoil, chickweed, common milkweed, and white sweet clover.
Habitat: Areas with small to medium pines such as forest openings and edges, and old fields.
Range: Nova Scotia west to eastern Alberta; south to northern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and northern Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Incisalia niphon
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 2107 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 19, 2024
Observation date: Apr 19, 2023
Submitted by: zebrafinch19
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Apr 27, 2024
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Adams County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: malcolmgold
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 11, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 27, 2024
Observation date: May 07, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 08, 2024
Observation date: Apr 10, 2024
Submitted by: Bluefox122
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Mar 21, 2024
Submitted by: crprice
Region: Ripley County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 09, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2023
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Newaygo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2023
Submitted by: beastbreath
Region: Gratiot County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: May 08, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: May 05, 2023
Submitted by: Leslie Warren
Region: Mahoning County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: Apr 28, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 16, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 27, 2023
Observation date: Apr 21, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 22, 2023
Observation date: Mar 12, 2023
Submitted by: Ron Smith
Region: Putnam County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: Ashwnota
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
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