Observation date: June 10, 2012
Submitted by: Nancy Hamlett
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: This small blue was observed on California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum) in coastal sage scrub at the Claremont Colleges’ Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station (http://bfs.claremont.edu). The morning had been overcast, but was just clearing as I spotted this butterfly. I think it might be either Euphilotes battoides (Square-spotted Blue) or Euphilotes bernardino (Bernardino Blue), but I don't know how to tell them apart.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: June 11, 2012
Coordinator notes: I just realized this AM that Claremont is well inland. So even though your photos are atypical for bernardino...E. battoides allyni is narrowly coastal. So based on current knowledge, your photos should be Bernardino Blues. Scientists are not even sure the "El Segundo Blue" is a "battoides", some allie it with bernardino. No opinion on that from me.-Ken Davenport
