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Introduction

C. amyntula on a flower with all the physical wing characteristics.

The western-tailed blue (Cupido amyntula) are non-migratory butterflies that commonly take flight during the Spring and Summer from March-July. They can be best classified as having a presence of a tail on their hindwing, an upper surface that's bluish while the under surface is chalky-white with occasional black spots, and an orange spot toward the base of their tail. Their wingspan ranges from 0.875 to 1.125 inches (2.2 to 2.9 cm). The larvae feed on various plant species including Astragalus (several species), Lathyrus (several species), Lotus, Oxytropis, and Vicea (several species) while adults feed on various things such as flower nectar, horse and coyote manure, urine, and mud.

Habitat

The western-tailed blue (Cupido amyntula) can be most abundantly found in open areas containing low shrubs extending throughout western North America from as high as south Alaska to as low as northern Baja California. These species prefer to reside more in forest densities, with equal presence in mature and young forests, compared to grassland habitats within these regions. They also have no preference for an open tree canopy cover and are equally likely to be found in mature forests adjacent to agricultural fields, young forests, and grasslands. They are found in higher densities of host plant cover and nectar plants among certain sites including meadows, prairies, and young forests. Within these locations, adult C. amynula visits white, purplish, yellow, or pinkish flowers, including Sedum lanceolatum and Astragalus flexuosus. The density of these species is highest where nectar plants and forest openings are widely available. Other habitat characteristics these species are known for include moist woodland openings under mature, open forests.

Reproductive Characteristics

Upper side view of C. amyntula wing.

During mating, the male and female C. amyntula join tips of their abdomen and the male passes sperm to the female to fertilize its eggs in which they typically lay up to 3 eggs on a single host plant flower or on young seed pods.

Females

Females are characteristic of a brown wing with blue coloring at the base. Once fertilized, females can lay up to 80 eggs per ovariole. Eggs hatch in about 4-5 days and develop from instar to pupa in about 14-25 days. Adults then emerge from pupae in 11-14 days.

Males

Male C. amyntula typically perch and patrol between shrubs, hillsides, and gully mouths throughout the day in search for a receptive female to mate with. Males can also be distinguished by a blue upper surface.

Caterpillars

The caterpillars of the C. amyntula vary from brownish yellow to green and is covered in fine white hairs marked with a red or green stripe running along the back and diagonal pinkish and reddish purple dashes on the side. They typically grow an average length of 1/2 an inch.

Habitat

The western tailed blue can be most abundantly found in open areas containing low shrubs extending throughout western North America from as high as south Alaska to as low as northern Baja California. These species prefer to reside more in forest densities, with equal presence in mature and young forests, compared to grassland habitats within these regions. They also have no preference for an open tree canopy cover and are equally likely to be found in mature forests adjacent to agricultural fields, young forests, and grasslands. They can be found in higher densities of host plant cover and nectar plants among certain sites including meadows, prairies, and young forests. Within these locations, adult C. Amynula visits white, purplish, yellow, or pinkish flowers, including Sedum lanceolatum and Astragalus flexuosus. The density of these species is highest where nectar plants and forest openings are widely available. Other habitat characteristics these species are known for include moist woodland openings under mature, open forests.