This is an old image of mine, so it’s not perfect. If you can tell me this butterfly to species you get a high-five. If you know the subspecies, I’ll send you a new pack of #3 stainless steel pins! Only hint: It’s from the western USA.
OK butterfly people, who am I?
This is an old image of mine, so it’s not perfect. If you can tell me this butterfly to species you get a high-five. If you know the subspecies, I’ll send you a new pack of #3 stainless steel pins! Only hint: It’s from the western USA. Share this!8 comments to OK butterfly people, who am I? |
Skepticism |
I’ll bite, though I am far from a butterfly person.
Plebejus icarioides
Subspp … buchholzi??
Nope!
Maybe for more of a hint, the subspecies name is derived from a state park.
Yeesh, the things I do…
moroensis
After this, I’m just copying down all of them 🙂
Hahaha well good guess, but you’re off on genus and species. I guess I made challenge #1 a bit too tricky.
Nah, you probably just need to attract lepidopterists as readers – not IPM specialists!
It’s Philotiella speciosa. Don’t know the sub…
High-five to James, who got the genus and species correct. This is subspecies purisima – or the Lompoc Blue. It is only found in and around the vicinity of La Purissima State Park in Lompoc, CA. I am one of the few to photograph this species in the wild – but at the time I had rudimentary equipment. I then directed Jim Brock to the same site where he captured some stunning images of this butterfly:
http://butterfliesofamerica.com/imagehtmls/Lycaenidae/Philotiella_speciosa_purisima_M_Purisima_Hills_N_of_Lompoc_Santa_Barbara_Co_CA_USA_27-IV-09_1_i.htm