Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Boisduval's Blue

Plebejus icarioides

Description:

Boisduval's Blue was the most common blue butterfly that I found puddling. There were probably thousands lining the moist ditches on a hot day. Its identified best by the ventral side of its wings (seen in pics 3 and 4). The wingspan is 1-1/8 to 1-3/8 inch.

Habitat:

Spotted along the edges of N. Wenas Road in ditches, where there was moist soil. 1600 ft a.s.l.

Notes:

Host plants are lupines. Adult butterflies live on nectar from a variety of flowers including cryptantha and Eriogonum, or buckwheat.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

4 Comments

Brian38
Brian38 3 years ago

Thank you for your kind comments, Neil, Saturniidae27, and i_munasinghe. This was probably the hottest day we have had and the butterflies where so intent on their puddling activities they would forget about me after awhile.

Irandi Munasinghe
Irandi Munasinghe 3 years ago

Joining after some time and oh what a great spotting!!! This made my day, so beautiful!!!! :)

Saturniidae27
Saturniidae27 3 years ago

Same for me Neil, they just seem to stay for you Brian. Amazing shots :)

Neil Ross
Neil Ross 3 years ago

Awesome spotting, Brian. How did they all not just fly away? You have better luck than I do with butterflies!

Brian38
Spotted by
Brian38

Selah, Washington, United States

Spotted on May 24, 2020
Submitted on May 27, 2020

Related Spottings

Azul-do-Norte Lycaenid butterfly Silver-studded Blue Cigale plébéienne

Nearby Spottings

Black-headed grosbeak (male) Townsend's solitaire Blue-green algae Melissa Blue
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team