Philotes sonorensis

Philotes sonorensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Philotes; Scudder, 1876
Species:	P. sonorensis
Binomial name
	Philotes sonorensis; (C. & R. Felder, [1865])
Synonyms
	Lycaena sonorensis C. & R. Felder, [1865]; Lycaena regia Boisduval, 1869; Philotes sonorensis ab. sonoralba Watson & Comstock, 1920; Philotes sonorensis f. comstocki Gunder, 1925;

Philotes is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. Philotes is a monotypic genus containing only Philotes sonorensis, the Sonoran blue or stonecrop blue, found in North America in California and Baja California.^[2] The habitat consists of rocky washes, outcrops and cliffs in deserts.

The wingspan is 22–25 mm. The upperside is silvery blue with red spots at the outer margin of the forewings. The hindwings of females also have red spots. Adults are on wing from February to March in one generation per year.^[2]

The larvae feed on Dudleya species, including D. cymosa, D. lanceolata and D. saxosa. They bore into the leaves of their host plant. Chrysalids hibernate under stones.

Subspecies

Philotes sonorensis sonorensis
†Philotes sonorensis extinctis Mattoni, 1991 (upper San Gabriel river wash in southern California)

References

^ Philotes at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera
^ ^a ^b Butterflies and Moths of North America

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[1] Philotes at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera

[BAMONA-2] Butterflies and Moths of North America

[1]

[2]