Description ²

Our smallest elfin, dark overall with extensive "frosting" on the hindwing and a narrow band of frosting on the edge of the forewing. Brown and eastern pine elfins lack "frosting," and on frosted elfin, the frosting is restricted to the hindwing. Hoary elfin is locally common on Martha's Vineyard but strongly associated with its larval host, bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). It is rare to find this butterfly more than a few feet from a patch of its host. Often the first elfin found in the spring, and also often the first one to disappear: extreme dates are April 3 and May 19. Known mainly from Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, but it has also been reported from Wasque on Chappaquiddick. The dark coloration of this species camouflages it well against damp, early spring soil, making these butterflies somewhat difficult to spot.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Matt Pelikan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Pelikan
2. Adapted by Matt Pelikan from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callophrys_polios

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CalPhotos
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

iNat Map