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Project Noah Nature School
Cupido comyntas
Butterfly with one narrow tail on hindwing. Upperside of male iridescent blue; summer females uniformly brown, spring females smaller with much blue at the wing bases. Underside of hindwing pale gray with black bar at end of cell, distinct black spots, and three large orange spots at outer margin near tail. Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Habitat: Many open, sunny places including weedy areas and disturbed habitats. This one was spotted at the constructed wetlands at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park near Augusta (Richmond County), GA.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants in the pea family including yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), alfalfa (Medicago sativa); various species of vetch (Vicia), clover (Trifolium), wild pea (Lathyrus), and bush clover (Lespedeza); and others. Adult Food: This butterfly has a low flight and a short proboscis, thus is found at flowers close to the ground which are open or short-tubed. These include white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, asters, and others.
Spotted on Apr 5, 2014
Submitted on Jan 2, 2015
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