Summary ⁴

The Western Tailed-blue (Cupido amyntula) is a member of the Lycaenidae family and is seen across western North America as far norther as Alaska. The upperside of the male butterfly is blue while the female has a darker brown band on the outer side of the wing. The underside is riddle with black spots, with a wingspan of 2.2 to 2.9 cm. The larvae feed on Thermopsis, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Vicia, and Lathyrus.

Habitat ⁵

Comments: Moist meadows and canyons; forest margins, roadsides. Larval hosts include genera Astragalus, Lathyrus, Vicia. Generally with native legumes in openings in forested regions.

National nature serve conservation status ⁶

Canada

United States

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block
2. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2012_02_03/IMG_111538.JPG
3. (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2012_02_03/IMG_111539.JPG
4. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupido_amyntula
5. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28825407
6. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28825397

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
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

iNat Map