Identification
Upperside of male bright lilac-blue with dark medium-wide borders; corner of hindwing has a small orange patch and small marginal spots. Upperside of female brown with broad orange marginal band. Underside of both sexes off-white
Range
Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Also found in northern Mexico.
Habitat
Arid areas such as desert foothills and shortgrass prairie.
Season
One flight from July to late September
Food
Larva; Wild buckwheat species including Wright's buckwheat, Effuse Buckwheat, and others.
Adults; Nectar from Eriogonum flowers.
Life Cycle
Rita Dotted-Blues stay near their host plants. Males patrol around the plants all day to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers of the host. Caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits, and are tended by ants.