Western Pygmy-Blue (University of Arizona Pollinator Field Guide)

Western Pygmy-Blue

Brephidium exilis / exile

Who am I? ³

~excited and quick fluttering~
Ooooo! Hi! My name is Brephidium exilis (or Brephidium exile), but you can just call me the Western Pygmy Blue hehe. I am one of the smallest butterflies in the world and the smallest in North America, though of course there is debate on whether we are truly the smallest. Supposedly I am competing with Blues from other countries, including Tongeia minima from China, Brephidium pseudofea from North America, Brephidium (or Oraidium) barberae from southern Africa, Zizula hylax from Old World tropics, Pseudophilotes sinaicus from Egypt, and Micropsyche ariana from Afghanistan. It's almost like a butterfly olympics! Anyway, my friends and I are primarily distributed throughout southern United States, but we have actually been introduced and started populating the Middle East as well. Good luck finding me :)

Quick facts ³

Common name: Western Pygmy Blue

Scientific name:Brephidium exilis (Boisduval 1852)

Characteristics:

Wing span: 1/2 - 3/4 inch (1.2 - 2 cm)
Very small butterflies
Males are typically smaller than females
Upperside is copper brown with dull blue at the bases of both wings
Males usually have a slight violet-blue iridescence extending across the basal area of the upperside
Underside of hindwing is copper brown with white at the base
Fringe mostly white; 3 small black spots near base; row of black spots at outer margin
Will lay eggs on uppersides of plant, and larvae will eat all parts of plant
Pupae overwinter

Host plant: Pigweed (Chenopodium album), saltbush species (Atriplex), and others in the goosefoot family (Chenopodiaceae)

Nectar plant: Variety of flowers

Preferred habitat: Alkaline areas - deserts, salt marshes, wastelands

Distribution: S. United States to Mexico and Central America

Flight times: Most likely to be seen Aug. - Nov., but can be all year in warmer regions such as S. Texas. See seasonality: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53843-Brephidium-exilis

Where can you find me on campus? ³

Due to the size, it may be a little harder to spot a Western Pygmy compared to the other pollinators. Yet at the same time, like the others they are attracted by flower nectar as usual. It may be good to check out the flowers planted around Old Main fountain or in any flower area around campus. Since they do prefer a desert-like habitat, the Joseph Wood Krutch garden is also a potential candidate in finding Western Pygmy Blues.