Four species in this group of butterflies are known from Martha's Vineyard. All are small, brown butterflies that fly in the early spring (mid-April through about the third week of May, though lingering individuals can persist much longer). Look for them in open habitat dominated by our native ...more ↓
Four species in this group of butterflies are known from Martha's Vineyard. All are small, brown butterflies that fly in the early spring (mid-April through about the third week of May, though lingering individuals can persist much longer). Look for them in open habitat dominated by our native sandplain vegetation: scrub oak barrens, sandy clearings in oak woodland, areas dominated by lowbush blueberry and bearberry. They are generally dound close the ground and close to their caterpillar food plants, which vary from species to species. "Elfin" is an informal designation for a group of species within the family Lycaenidae; you can think of them as brown, early season members of the hairstreak family.
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