Small Dotted-Blue
Philotiella speciosa (Hy. Edwards, 1877)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Tiny. Upperside of male pale lavender-blue with a narrow dark border; female is all brown. Underside white with large spots on forewing, small spots on hindwing.
Wing Span: 5/8 - 7/8 inch (1.6 - 2.2 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during the day to search for females. Eggs are laid singly on membranous sheaths beneath the flowers. Caterpillars eat Eriogonum flowers and the fleshy growths at the joints of Oxytheca. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One brood from April-May.
Caterpillar Hosts: Oxytheca and Eriogonum species in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar, usually that of the caterpillar hosts.
Habitat: Deserts, edges of dry desert lakes, stream edges in foothills.
Range: Local and uncommon. Western Nevada, eastern and southeastern California.
Conservation: Populations outside of the Mojave Desert region should be conserved, especially in the Sierra Nevada foothills (subspecies bohartorum).
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Determine effects of exotic plants and fire on extant populations.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 113 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 08, 1962
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (F. T. Thorne)
Region: Imperial County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Emmel & Emmel)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 13, 2006
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ken Davenport`)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 26, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. M. Brown)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Oakley Shields)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 12, 1924
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 21, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Jun 03, 1938
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. M. Bohart)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 11, 1970
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. R. Mori)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. R. Mori)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 26, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. M. Brown)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Oakley Shields)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 27, 1978
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 22, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Brock & O. Shields)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 01, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 07, 1992
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 05, 1982
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John F. Emmel)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Oakley Shields)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 15, 1923
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 26, 1936
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Jun 14, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 23, 1966
Submitted by: ray.stanford@st... (J. Lane, Ray Stanford)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Jan 01, 1925
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. S. Garth)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Oakley Shields)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Jun 03, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. F. Emmel & O. Shields)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Oakley Shields)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 11, 1971
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael Smith)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 28, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jim Brock)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 04, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (K. Hughes, John Lane)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Ray Stanford)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: May 27, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. M. Brown)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Oakley Shields)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Apr 20, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (F. T. Thorne)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
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