Henry's Elfin (Butterflies of Alabama)

Henry's Elfin

Callophrys henrici

Summary ⁷

Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), sometimes called the Woodland Elfin, is a North American butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. In Canada it is found from southern Manitoba to southern Nova Scotia. It has two main groups of populations in the USA: the first is found along the Atlantic Coast and uses various hollies (Ilex) as host plants; and the second is found mainly in the north and the Appalachians where they use Redbud (Cercis canadensis) as a...

North american ecology (us and canada) ⁸

Resident in eastern United States into southern (Scott 1986). Habitats are Gulf coast to lower Canadian zone open woods and moist scrub, mesquite woodland in the southwest. Host plants can be tree, shrub and herb species from many families, including Leguminosae, Rosaceae, Ericaceae, Ebenaceae, Caprifoliaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Larvae eat flowers, fruits and young leaves. Individuals overwinter as pupae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time May 1-early June in the northern part of the range and Mar1-Apr30 in the southern part of their range (Scott 1986).