Host-plant-colonization
Guides
Plebejus icarioides icarioides
Melissa Blue, Icaricia Blue
Plebejus icarioides icarioides is a subspecies of blue butterfly in the family Lycaenidae, commonly known as the Melissa Blue or Icaricia Blue. The species complex has been subject to taxonomic revision, with this subspecies sometimes placed in the genus Icaricia. It occurs in western North America and is associated with open habitats. The subspecies is part of a broader species group that includes the endangered Fender's blue butterfly (P. i. fenderi), which has been extensively studied for conservation purposes.