The Butterflies of the World Foundation

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Frosted Elfin

Callophrys irus (Godart, [1824])

Subfamily Theclinae

Tribe Eumaeini

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Taxonomy

The family Lycaenidae is a large and varied worldwide group that has 4,000 to 6,000 species depending on the ever-changing taxonomic flux.  They are collectively called Gossamer Butterflies or Gossamer Wings.  The family is further divided into eight subfamilies.  The first is the Theclinae which includes the Hairstreaks, Sunstreaks, Elfins and others.  The second is the Polyommatinae which includes the Blues, Azures, Arguses, Caeruleans and others.  The third subfamily is the Lycaeninae which includes the Coppers, Sapphires, Silverlines and others.  The forth is the Poritiinae which includes the gems.  The fifth is the Miletinae which includes the Brownies, Harvesters, Darkies, Apeflies and others.  The sixth is the Curetinae which includes the Sunbeams.  The seventh family is the Lipteninae which includes about 500 tropical rainforest gossamer wings.  The eighth and final subfamily is the Liphyrinae and includes the Moth Butterflies.

Callophrys irus, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012

                                                                                               Ref #:  I-497-6.4

Callophrys irus, female ovipositing on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012             Ref #:  I-497-15.2

General Information:

Callophrys irus belongs to the subfamily Theclinae.  It is sporatically found in parts of the eastern U.S.  Within its range, it is found in colonies associated with its larval food plant.  Its preferred habitat includes open woods and forest edges, fields and scrub.

Callophrys irus, female ovipositing on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012                 Ref #:  I-498-3

Lifecycle:

The larval food plant for this species are plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, such as various indigo, Baptisia sp., and lupines, Lupinus sp. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plant.  Caterpillars eat flowers and developing seedpods and chrysalids hibernate in loose cocoons in litter beneath the plant.

Callophrys irus, female ovipositing on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012                 Ref #:  I-498-2

Callophrys irus, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012

                                                                                                Ref #:  I-497-16

Callophrys irus, female ovipositing on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012             Ref #:  I-497-19.2

Callophrys irus, female ovipositing on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012               Ref #:  I-497-17

Callophrys irus, female ovipositing on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 31 March 2012             Ref #:  I-497-20.1

Callophrys irus, larva on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 28 April 2011                             Ref #:  I-477-12.2

Callophrys irus, larva on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 28 April 2011                               Ref #:  I-477-10

Callophrys irus, larva on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 28 April 2011                            Ref #:  I-477-16.3

Callophrys irus, larva on yellow wild indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, private property, Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma, 28 April 2011                               Ref #:  I-477-13