Desert Elfin
Callophrys fotis (Strecker, [1878])
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: Upperside gray; underside brownish gray. Base of hindwing darker, outer half gray to yellow-gray.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (1.9 - 2.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch near host plants on trees and shrubs to wait for females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host; caterpillars feed on buds, flowers, and young fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Cliff rose (Cowania mexicana var. stansburiana) in the rose family (Rosaceae).
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: In desert rocky canyons, hills, and scrub.
Range: Southeastern California, southern Nevada, central Utah, southwest Colorado, northern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.
Conservation: Not thought to be in need of conservation.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 99 verified sightings
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Observation date: Apr 19, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1070360a.jpg?itok=RyqPdUp0)
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1430792.jpg?itok=XqFq5RSc)
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/elfin_desert_best_img_9330.jpg?itok=VLAlDhZb)
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/elfin_desert_best_img_5050.jpg?itok=veyPWTuX)
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/desert_elfin_callophrys_fotis._corral_pocket_bears_ears_national_monument_utah.jpg?itok=wHGAPsSE)
Observation date: Apr 13, 2024
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/desert_elfin_callophrys_fotis_female._trough_canyon_san_juan_county_ut._6_april_2017._robb_hannawacker.jpg?itok=jW6M6TGl)
Observation date: Apr 06, 2017
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/elfin.jpeg?itok=5VjSffec)
Observation date: Apr 29, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 04, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/callophrys_fotis_2022-04-08_hidden_forest_trail_dnwr_nvcrop.jpg?itok=dTADZ2wQ)
Observation date: Apr 08, 2022
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p5071598.jpg?itok=WhFvgJMJ)
Observation date: May 07, 2021
Submitted by: dyshah
Region: Kane County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/desert_elfin_callophrys_fotis_mojavensis_nv_clark_county_-_goodsprings_apr_2_2017.jpg?itok=D9-KMNgB)
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/desert_elfin_callophrys_fotis_mojavensis_nv_clark_county_-_goodsprings_apr_1_2017.jpg?itok=crX1iTRb)
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 22, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1090238.jpg?itok=YYBzVOxl)
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/19940521_c_fotis_cibola_co_nm.jpg?itok=rAUPXeuM)
Observation date: May 21, 1994
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p4060119.jpg?itok=nyrugmYk)
Observation date: Apr 05, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p4060137.jpg?itok=UOV3K9Pe)
Observation date: Apr 07, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1030744.jpg?itok=BjkXoKnN)
Observation date: May 04, 2020
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 05, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/elfin_desert_callophyrys_fotis_4-3-2020_4600_ft_near_pass_lime_kiln_canyon_mojave_co_az_-03.jpg?itok=dMBCNkit)
Observation date: Apr 03, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: Mohave County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Apr 14, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/elfin_desert_callophyrs_fotis_4-4-2020_kingston_road_pass_kingston_range_san_bernadino_co_ca_1.jpg?itok=67XZnheK)
Observation date: Apr 04, 2020
Submitted by: ASchmierer
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/dnelson_c_fotis_1.jpg?itok=bg5GPHRW)
Observation date: Apr 09, 2017
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/desert_elfin.jpg?itok=oLy1pDeK)
Observation date: May 04, 2013
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2013
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/callophrys-fotis-dnelson-1.jpg?itok=_GEEO4LX)
Observation date: Mar 30, 2002
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 21, 2012
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Observation date: Apr 08, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Steve Fratello)
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Apr 21, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
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