Aricia lupini

Lupine blue
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Aricia
Species: A. lupini
Binomial name
Aricia lupini
(Boisduval, 1869)
Synonyms
  • Plebejus lupinus
  • Lycaena lupini Boisduval, 1869
  • Plebejus lupini (Boisduval, 1869)
  • Icaricia lupini (Boisduval, 1869)
  • Rusticus chlorina Dyar, 1903

Aricia lupini, the lupine blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from south-western Canada, south through much of mountainous and intermountain western United States and high plains to northern Mexico.

The wingspan is 22–29 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August in one generation in the Sierra Nevada of eastern California. Elsewhere, there are several generations from March to July.

The larvae feed on Eriogonum umbellatum and Eriogonum fasciculatum. Adults feed on flower nectar.

The hairs of the caterpillars can cause skin irritation (urticaria).

Subspecies

  • Aricia lupini lupini (California)
  • Aricia lupini monticola (California)
  • Aricia lupini chlorina
  • Aricia lupini texanus (Arizona)
  • Aricia lupini argentata (California)

Media related to Aricia lupini at Wikimedia Commons

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