Hodges#4362

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cupido amyntula: /kʊˈpiːdoʊ əˈmɪntjʊlə/

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Summary

The western tailed-blue (Cupido amyntula) is a non-migratory butterfly common in western North America, characterized by its distinct wing coloration and tail, abundant in open areas with specific host plants for larvae.

Physical Characteristics

Wingspan ranges from 0.875 to 1.125 inches (2.2 to 2.9 cm). Notable characteristics include a bluish upper surface, chalky-white under surface with black spots, orange spot near the tail, and a tail on their hindwing.

Identification Tips

Males distinguished by blue upper surface; females have a brown wing with blue coloring at the base.

Habitat

Open areas with low shrubs, moist woodland openings, meadows, prairies, and young forests, often associated with host plant and nectar plant density.

Distribution

Western United States and Canada, including Yukon, Alaska, and as far south as northern Baja California; occurs along weedy forest margins across Canada as far as eastern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Maine.

Diet

Larvae feed on Astragalus, Lathyrus, Oxytropis, and Vicia species; adults feed on flower nectar, horse and coyote manure, urine, and mud.

Life Cycle

Females lay up to 3 eggs on host plant flowers or young seed pods; eggs hatch in 4-5 days; development from instar to pupa takes 14-25 days; adults emerge in 11-14 days.

Reproduction

Mating involves male and female joining tips of their abdomen; males fertilize females, which can lay up to 80 eggs per ovariole.

Tags

• butterfly
• Lepidoptera
• Cupido amyntula
• Nearctic
• non-migratory