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 49 - 72 of 1941 verified sightings
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Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region:
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 23, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0927_2_1.jpg?itok=jidqry9-)
Observation date: May 11, 2019
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/brown_elfin_11.jpg?itok=tR9Uy--7)
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Baraga County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/brown_elfin_10.jpg?itok=-4fh2taq)
Observation date: May 23, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/brown_elfin_individual1_1.jpg?itok=MQZ2k5Nb)
Observation date: May 27, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
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Observation date: Jun 01, 1986
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/mc_brown_elfin_jun_2022.jpg?itok=dxIXLD6K)
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 02, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_9195-2.jpg?itok=HLj4WAzD)
Observation date: Jun 02, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
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Observation date: Jun 22, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
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Observation date: Mar 29, 2022
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/brownelfin_stingingff_apr_2_2022.jpg?itok=3EqBYAZt)
Observation date: Apr 01, 2022
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Rhea County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6024.jpeg?itok=ucOwDcNY)
Observation date: Apr 09, 2022
Submitted by: Chris Tosdevin
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 11, 2022
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Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/5401_c_e_1st_close_re.jpg?itok=vObfX5g9)
Observation date: May 25, 2022
Submitted by: Breck Breckenridge
Region: Island County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 26, 2022
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Observation date: May 20, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 21, 2022
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Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: May 20, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/1-elfin_vic_paul_smiths_may_18_2022_1031am.img_0292a_-_copy.jpg?itok=eha13op9)
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 19, 2022
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Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 19, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/3-elfin_vic_paul_smiths_may_18_2022_1031am.img_0330.jpg?itok=cflApS-G)
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 18, 2022
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Observation date: May 13, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 18, 2022
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Observation date: May 15, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 17, 2022
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Observation date: May 15, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 15, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/493f5c4f-5bf5-46a8-a80e-5e29160002b1.jpeg?itok=blJN10Zr)
Observation date: May 09, 2022
Submitted by: Patti_Patamawadee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/9812fbf0-b74f-4ddb-a220-bb61114dcb11_1_201_a.jpeg?itok=g1i70FDz)
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: jhdwelly
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 07, 2022
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