Hoary Elfin
Callophrys polios (Cook & Watson, 1907)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: No tails. Upperside is orangish brown; underside brown. Forewing with outer margin of "frosted" white; irregular postmedian line is white. Outer half of hindwing is "frosted" light gray.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on plants in sunny clearings and low spots to look for females. Eggs are laid singly on leaf buds or flower pedicels. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from April-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) in the heath family (Ericaceae); probably trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including leatherleaf, pyxie, wild strawberry, and willow.
Habitat: Open sunny glades in barrens, rocky ridges, dunes, forest edges, adjacent to bogs.
Range: Very local distribution. Maine south to New Jersey, south in Appalachians to Virginia; west across Great Lakes states and southern prairie provinces; north to Alaska. Along Pacific Coast to northern California; south in Rocky Mountains to northern New Mexico.
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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 472 verified sightings
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Observation date: May 23, 2015
Submitted by: alchem30
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: May 30, 2015
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Observation date: May 24, 2015
Submitted by: alchem30
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: May 30, 2015
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Observation date: Apr 29, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 05, 2015
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Observation date: Apr 21, 2015
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Stevens County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 05, 2015
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Observation date: May 02, 2015
Submitted by: Jarchibold
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 03, 2015
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Observation date: May 23, 2014
Submitted by: Carl Freeman
Region: Benzie County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 11, 2014
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Observation date: Jun 01, 2014
Submitted by: davidelwonger@m...
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
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Observation date: May 11, 2014
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 27, 2014
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Observation date: May 13, 2008
Submitted by: Steven Daniel
Region: Jefferson County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 27, 2014
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Observation date: May 21, 2014
Submitted by: randimal
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 22, 2014
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Observation date: May 17, 2014
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 19, 2014
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Observation date: May 15, 2014
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 15, 2014
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Observation date: May 10, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Stevens County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 15, 2014
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Observation date: Apr 20, 2014
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 03, 2014
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Observation date: Apr 27, 2014
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Apr 29, 2014
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Observation date: Apr 26, 2014
Submitted by: martytdx
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Apr 27, 2014
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Observation date: May 02, 2013
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 04, 2013
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Observation date: May 01, 2013
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 03, 2013
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Observation date: Apr 25, 2013
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 30, 2013
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Observation date: Apr 21, 2012
Submitted by: Greg Dysart
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Nov 06, 2012
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Observation date: May 07, 2011
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: coreyhusic
Verified date: Jun 11, 2012
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Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 31, 2012
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Observation date: May 12, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 14, 2012
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Observation date: May 07, 2012
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Stevens County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 09, 2012
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