Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters (Lycaenidae) » Blues (Polyommatinae) » Plebejus » Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380 (Plebejus acmon)

Species Plebejus acmon - Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380

Classification · Hodges Number · Explanation of Names · Identification · Range · Internet References
Acmon Blue - Plebejus acmon - male Acmon Blue - Plebejus acmon Plebejus acmon - male Plebejus acmon - female Acmon Blue - Plebejus acmon - female Plebejus acmon - female Acmon Blue - Plebejus acmon Icaricia acmon - Plebejus acmon
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 Polyommatinae (Blues)
Genus Plebejus
Species acmon (Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380)
Hodges Number
4380
Explanation of Names
Acmon is the name of one of a pair of mischevious monkey-like characters (Cercopes, see also Wikipedia) in Greek/Roman mythology.
Identification
Male distinguished from the similar Lupine Blue (called Plebejus lupini by Nearctica.com but Icaricia lupini by CBIF) by the paler blue upperside of wings, and the absence of a dark discal spot on the upperside of the hindwings.
Range
Restricted mostly to California and Oregon, whereas the range of the similar Lupine Blue extends over most of western US and adjacent parts of Canada.
Internet References
pinned adult images plus info and US range map (Nearctica.com)
comparison images and range maps of Lupine Blue (Nearctica.com); (CBIF)
Opler, Paul. A. 2003. FIXATION OF TYPE LOCALITY FOR LYCAENA ACMON WESTWOOD AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SPECIES AND ITS DISTRIBUTION. The Taxonomic Report of the International Lepidoptera Survey, Vol. 4, No.1. PDF format
bidwellpark.org - Butterfly article which mentions this species as being one of the blues that ants help to pupate.
Contributed by Robin McLeod on 11 January, 2005 - 2:56am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Steve Nanz, Lynette Elliott, Hartmut Wisch, Harsi S. Parker
Last updated 3 July, 2017 - 1:58pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact