Biology:Callophrys fotis

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Short description: Species of butterfly

Callophrys fotis
Scientific classification edit
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Animalia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Arthropoda
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Insecta
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Lepidoptera
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Lycaenidae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Callophrys
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: <div style="display:inline" class="script error: no such module "taxobox ranks".">C. fotis
Binomial name
Callophrys fotis
(Strecker, 1878)
Subspecies

See text

Synonyms
  • Incisalia fotis
  • Thecla fotis Strecker, 1878
  • Deciduphagus fotis

Callophrys fotis is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, the gossamer-winged butterflies. It is known by several common names, including early elfin, desert elfin, Fotis hairstreak, Strecker's elfin, and Arizona gray elfin.[1] It is native to the southwestern United States, where it occurs in southeastern California , Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, northern Arizona, and northwestern New Mexico.[1]

This butterfly has a wingspan of 19 to 28 millimeters. It is gray on the upperside and brownish gray on the underside. The hindwing has a darker base and a grayish to yellow-gray tip.[2]

This species occurs in desert habitat, especially pinyon-juniper woodland. Its host plants are Stansbury's cliffrose (Purshia stansburiana) and related species. Males perch on the plants awaiting females, which then deposit eggs on the flower buds. The caterpillars feed on the flowers and developing fruits and pupate over the winter in the litter beneath the plant. Adults fly from March through May.[1]

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[3]

  • Callophrys fotis fotis
  • Callophrys fotis mojavensis (Austin, 1998)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Callophrys fotis. Invertebrate Abstracts. Arizona Game and Fish Department.
  2. Callophrys fotis. Butterflies and Moths of North America.
  3. Callophrys fotis. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)

Wikidata ☰ Q13487034 entry