common name: eastern pigmy blue
scientific name: Brephidium
isophthalma pseudofoea (Morrison) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
The eastern pigmy blue is our smallest eastern butterfly. It is found near saltwater -- particularly in salt marshes where its host plants occur.
The eastern pigmy blue is found in coastal areas from southern South Carolina to southern central Florida on the Atlantic coast, from the tip of peninsular Florida up the Gulf coast through the Big Bend Area, and from the western panhandle of Florida to eastern Louisiana.
The wingspread of the adult is 9 to 11 mm.
Undersides of wings are brown with a row of submarginal black spots with white
highlights and are patterned with numerous white dashes and a submedian row of
white circles. Upper sides of wings are brown with black spots without
highlights.
adult
Eastern pigmy blue eggs are pale blue-green. The larvae are green with small
white tubercles that closely match the pattern on the glasswort host plant.
Pupae are variable but usually yellow-brown with darker brown dots.
larva
There are many flights all year in Florida. Males patrol near host plants and courtship occurs in late afternoon. The primary larval host plant is annual glasswort, Salicornia bigelovii Torr.
(Chenopodiaceae). Perennial glasswort, Salicornia perennis Mill. and saltwort, Batis maritima L. (Bataceae) also may be used.
annual glasswort
- Gerberg EJ, Arnett RH. 1989. Florida Butterflies. National Science Publications, Inc. Baltimore, MD.
- Opler PA, Krizek GO. 1984. Butterflies East of the Great Plains. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD.
- Opler PA, Malikul V. 1998. Eastern Butterflies. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York.
- Scott JA. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press. Stanford, CA.
Authors: Donald W. Hall and Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Photographs: Jerry F. Butler and Donald W. Hall, University of Florida
Project Coordinator: Thomas R.
Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-107
Publication Date: August 1999
Copyright 1999 University of Florida
Featured Creatures
Department of Entomology and Nematology
Division of Plant Industry
Electronic Data Information
Source