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 25 - 48 of 2109 verified sightings
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
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: davidboon
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: Rebrace
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Roscommon County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Cheboygan County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: May 16, 2021
Submitted by: wilderneyes
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 15, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: Leslie Warren
Region: Mahoning County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: May 21, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 19, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: Rjfischer
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 12, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2022
Observation date: May 09, 2022
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 10, 2022
Observation date: Apr 30, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 30, 2022
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 27, 2021
Submitted by: gblkrum
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 05, 2022
Observation date: May 06, 2007
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: lisagorn
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Nov 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 17, 2019
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: May 25, 2021
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2021
Observation date: May 04, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: May 29, 2021
Submitted by: Carmel Mothersill
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 06, 2021
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