Lupine Blue
Plebejus lupini (Boisduval, 1869)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male lilac blue with wide dark borders; female dark brown. Band at hindwing outer margin wide, orange-red, in male may be divided into separate chevrons.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol near the host plants for females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers, which the caterpillars eat. Second-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: In the Sierra Nevada of California, one flight from June-August; elsewhere, several flights from March-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of perennial wild buckwheat including sulfur flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) and flat top (Eriogonum fasciculatum) in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Alpine slopes, mountain meadows and slopes, prairies, rocky outcrops, chaparral, and sagebrush.
Range: Southwestern Canada south through much of mountainous and intermountain West and high plains to northern Mexico.
Conservation: Several populations, some unnamed, are highly local, and are of conservation concern.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Monitor status of populations, conserve habitats, and be vigilant for effects of exotic weeds.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 819 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Oct 22, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 27, 2021
Observation date: Oct 20, 2021
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 22, 2021
Observation date: Oct 08, 2021
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 10, 2021
Observation date: Oct 03, 2020
Submitted by: Akatdesign
Region: Latah County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: Oct 03, 2020
Submitted by: Akatdesign
Region: Latah County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: tsimpson
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 24, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 31, 2021
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2021
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: May 20, 2021
Submitted by: Rozelle Wright
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2020
Submitted by: flusteredfly
Region: Camas County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Sep 07, 2012
Submitted by: cjbruchman
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 06, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2020
Submitted by: Gary Nordell
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: Brush_lady
Region: Union County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2020
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 10, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 10, 2020
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