Cupido Amyntula - Western Tailed Blue

Cupido Amyntula - Western Tailed Blue

Image Credit: Brad Smith

Identification: Narrow tail on hindwing. Upper side of male blue, female brown with blue at wing base. Underside white with black spots indistinct or lacking; single small orange spot near tail.

Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).

Caterpillar Hosts: Legumes with inflated pods including false lupine (Thermopsis), milkvetch (Astragalus), crazyweed (Oxytropis), and vetches (Vicia and Lathyrus).

Adult Food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Open - usually native - areas with low shrubs including chaparral, meadows, and open woodland.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Cupido-amyntula