Western tailed-blue
| Western tailed-blue | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mating pair | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Cupido |
| Species: | C. amyntula
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cupido amyntula Boisduval, 1852
| |
The western tailed-blue (Cupido amyntula) is a member of the family Lycaenidae and is seen across western North America as far north as Alaska.[1] 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 riddled with black spots, with a wingspan of 2.2 to 2.9 cm. The larvae feed on Thermopsis, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Vicia, and Lathyrus species.[2]
References
- ^ "Species Cupido amyntula - Western Tailed Blue - BugGuide". Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ^ "Species Detail Butterflies and Moths of North America". Retrieved 2009-09-04.