Frosted Elfin
Callophrys irus (Godart, [1824])
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Theclinae
Identification: One short tail on the hindwing. Upperside brown; male with long oval dark spot on leading edge of forewing. Below, postmedian line of forewing is irregular; that of hindwing is faint. Hindwing with submarginal black spot above tail.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.2 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and developing seedpods. Chrysalids hibernate in loose cocoons in litter beneath the plant.
Flight: One flight from March-April in the south, May-June in the north.
Caterpillar Hosts: Members of the pea family (Fabaceae) indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) and lupine (Lupinus perennis); occasionally blue false indigo (B. australis) and rattlebox (Crotalaria sagittalis).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open woods and forest edges, fields, scrub.
Range: Occurs in local colonies from Maine west across New York and southern Michigan to central Wisconsin; south along Atlantic coast and Appalachians to Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Isolated colony in eastern Texas, northwest Louisiana, and southwest Arkansas.
Conservation: Populations are often small and local. Callophrys irus hadros of east Texas is particularly limited.
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: Maintain habitat by controlled burns or other physical means.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 666 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 21, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 19, 2018
Observation date: Mar 17, 2018
Submitted by: H. Wedgeworth
Region: Texas, Sabine County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 11, 2018
Observation date: Mar 17, 2018
Submitted by: H. Wedgeworth
Region: Texas, Sabine County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 11, 2018
Observation date: Mar 18, 2018
Submitted by: H. Wedgeworth
Region: Texas, Nacogdoches County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 11, 2018
Observation date: Mar 31, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Howard County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 04, 2018
Observation date: Mar 31, 2018
Submitted by: cosmic_cat
Region: Harrison County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 01, 2018
Observation date: Mar 26, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 27, 2018
Observation date: Mar 23, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 26, 2018
Observation date: Mar 21, 2018
Submitted by: MaryAnn Friedman
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Mar 20, 2017
Submitted by: wallap74
Region: Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 04, 2018
Observation date: Apr 29, 2017
Submitted by: Julius
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: May 10, 2017
Observation date: Apr 11, 2017
Submitted by: Laurie Sheppard
Region: Grayson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 17, 2017
Observation date: Mar 20, 2017
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Jeff Trahan
Verified date: Apr 14, 2017
Observation date: Mar 11, 2017
Submitted by: jgiroux
Region: Henderson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 26, 2017
Observation date: Apr 30, 2016
Submitted by: Jarchibold
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 02, 2016
Observation date: May 08, 2015
Submitted by: SteveSass
Region: Starke County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: May 12, 2015
Observation date: May 02, 2015
Submitted by: Jarchibold
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: reutere
Verified date: May 03, 2015
Observation date: Mar 31, 2015
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 01, 2015
Observation date: Apr 18, 2011
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: Isle Of Wight County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Mar 19, 2015
Observation date: Mar 31, 2014
Submitted by: sshively
Region: Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 09, 2014
Observation date: Mar 20, 2014
Submitted by: MaryAnn Friedman
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2014
Observation date: Mar 18, 2014
Submitted by: rseidler
Region: Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 20, 2014
Observation date: Apr 29, 2010
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 05, 2014
Observation date: May 05, 2013
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 10, 2013
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