Brown Elfin
Callophrys augustinus (Westwood, 1852)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: No tails. Upperside of male gray-brown; female reddish brown. Underside chestnut brown with dark, irregular postmedian line; hindwing darker at base.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males perch on shrubs in open areas to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plants; caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits. Pupation takes place in litter at the base of the host plant; chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from May-July in the north, March-April in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: In the East, members of the heath family (Ericaceae), including sugar huckleberry (Vaccinium vacillans) and Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum). In the west, many other plants including madrone (Arbutus) and dodder (Cuscuta).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including blueberry, footsteps-of-spring, spicebush, willow, winter cress, and wild plum.
Habitat: Mixed conifer woods, barrens, bogs, sandy coasts, chaparral.
Range: Newfoundland north and west through northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska; south in Appalachians to northern Georgia and northern Alabama; south through western mountains to northern Baja California. Does not occur on the plains or in the Midwest.
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.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Callophrys augustus
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 1949 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 25, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 28, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 22, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 18, 2024
Observation date: Mar 13, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 13, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Mar 01, 2010
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 22, 2023
Observation date: Apr 24, 2021
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 14, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: alchem30
Region:
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Jun 06, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2023
Submitted by: dee4nativeflora
Region: Jackson County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2023
Submitted by: sfelton
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2023
Observation date: May 22, 2023
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 23, 2023
Observation date: May 18, 2023
Submitted by: lfiske
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 19, 2023
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Apr 20, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 23, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Apr 26, 2023
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 05, 2023
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