San Emigdio Blue
Plebejus emigdionis (F. Grinnell, 1905)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male pale blue with wide brown border; hindwing with faint orange band at outer margin. Female brown with blue at wing bases and orange bands near outer margins. Underside of both sexes white with many small black spots; forewing postmedian band has 2 elongated spots.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on leaves of the host plant. Caterpillars eat leaves and are tended by ants. Older caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Three flights from April-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Shadscale (Atriplex canescens) in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae).
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: Shadscale scrub in desert canyons and near washes.
Range: Very local in southern California from Inyo County south through the Mojave Desert, San Joaquin Valley, Bouquet and Mint Canyons, and Los Angeles County.
Conservation: Habitat of all populations should be monitored or conserved.
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 and protect from non-indigenous plants.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 57 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2021
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 02, 2024
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 24, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Apr 13, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 15, 2019
Observation date: Jun 10, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 28, 2018
Observation date: May 14, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 18, 2017
Observation date: Apr 29, 2012
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 06, 2012
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Rob Santry)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 10, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Pasko)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: May 10, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Pasko)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: May 17, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Pasko)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: May 17, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Pasko)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 31, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: May 30, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Skalski)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: Aug 29, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (D. Parkinson)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: Apr 28, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce O'Hara)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jul 05, 1968
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John Emmel, O. Shields)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 28, 1965
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields & J. Emmel)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Apr 10, 1960
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (O. Sette, J. Montgomery, F. Thorne)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Apr 22, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: May 01, 1921
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: May 28, 1922
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Apr 17, 1995
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 19, 2009
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