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Melissa blue

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sandover (talk | contribs) at 20:32, 14 October 2013 (Vladimir Nabokov : Plejebus). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lycaeides melissa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Lycaeides
Species:
L. melissa
Binomial name
Lycaeides melissa
Edwards, 1873

The Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Western North America, from Canada to Mexico. The Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) is a subspecies of the Melissa Blue, and was described by the novelist/lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov. It is sometimes placed in the genus Plebejus.[1]

Lycaeides melissa samuelis
Pupa of Lycaeides melissa samuelis
Larva of Lycaeides melissa samuelis

The wingspan is 22–35 mm. The butterfly flies from April to August depending on the location.

The larvae feed on Lupin, Medicago and Lotus species.

  1. ^ "Species Detail". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Montana State University. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
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