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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies (excluding skippers) (Papilionoidea) » Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters (Lycaenidae) » Blues (Polyommatinae) » Pygmy Blues (Brephidium) » Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis)

Species Brephidium exilis - Western Pygmy-Blue

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Food · Life Cycle · Internet References
Western Pygmy-Blue -- Brephidium exile - Brephidium exilis I thought this butterfly would be easy... - Brephidium exilis Brephidium exile - Brephidium exilis Western Pygmy Blue - Brephidium exilis little Butterfly - Brephidium exilis Western Pygmy Blue - Brephidium exilis Very small butterfly - Brephidium exilis Western Pygmy Blue - Brephidium exilis
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))
Family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
Subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues)
Genus Brephidium (Pygmy Blues)
Species exilis (Western Pygmy-Blue)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Brephidium exile
Explanation of Names
Latin for "small". The smallest butterfly in our area
Food
Larval hosts include the genera (in no particular order):
Salicornia, Suaeda, Chenopodium, Salsola, Atriplex, Halogeton, Batis, Allenrolfea, Sesuvium, Trianthema, Amaranthus, Portulaca, Cycloloma, Bassia, Beta, Grayia, Kochia, Suckleya, Sarcobatus, Krascheninnikovia (= Ceratoides), and probably many more in families Chenopodiaceae, Sesuviaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Portulaceae. Quite likely related families such as Montiaceae, Aizoaceae, Mesembryanthemaceae, Cactaceae, etc. could be utilized as well.
Life Cycle
Multiple broods throughout the year, pausing during drought and cold. Overwintering as pupae and ?adults.
Internet References
Detailed photo series by Nicky Davis, documenting development from ova, through larva, to pupa.
Contributed by tom murray on 22 July, 2005 - 4:44pm
Additional contributions by Chuck Entz, Nick Block, David Ferguson, Harsi S. Parker
Last updated 29 November, 2009 - 6:25pm

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