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Species Callophrys polios - Hoary Elfin - Hodges#4324

Hoary Elfin - Callophrys polios Hoary Elfin - Callophrys polios Hoary Elfin - Callophrys polios Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios) - Callophrys polios Butterfly - Callophrys polios Callophrys polios Callophrys polios Hoary Elfin - Callophrys polios
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)
Family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
Subfamily Theclinae (Hairstreaks)
Tribe Eumaeini
Genus Callophrys
Species polios (Hoary Elfin - Hodges#4324)
Hodges Number
4324
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Callophrys polia
described in 1907 by Cook & Watson, who originally placed it in genus Incisalia
Size
wingspan 22-29 mm in United States; 19-26 mm in Canada
Identification
Adult: upperside of wings orangish-brown in the east, grayer in the west; underside of hindwing with wide terminal band of pale gray frosting; underside of forewing with narrow terminal band of frosting; hindwing underside lacks dark spot (present in Frosted Elfin)

Larva: bright green with lighter green lines down back and sides, and oblique green marks on flanks
Range
Alaska to Nova Scotia, south in the Appalachians to Virginia, south in the Rockies to northern New Mexico
Habitat
open areas with low heath plants (primarily bearberry), pine barrens, meadows, forest edges
Season
adults fly April-May in the south; May-June in the north
Food
larvae feed on Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and Trailing Arbutus (Epigaea repens)
Life Cycle
one generation per year
Print References
(1) (2) (3)
Internet References
species account (Butterflies of Canada)
species account (butterfliesandmoths.org)
Works Cited
1.Butterflies of the East Coast : An Observer's Guide
Rick Cech, Guy Tudor. 2005. Princeton University Press.
2.Butterflies of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides)
Jim P. Brock, Kenn Kaufman. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Co.
3.Butterflies Through Binoculars: The East
Jeffrey Glassberg. 1999. Oxford University Press.