Euphilotes battoides

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:11 +0000

This is a "complex" of several biological entities which may be "good species;" we have much to learn. All the populations along our transect are in the Sierra Nevada and are associated with Sulphur Flower, Eriogonum umbellatum - which itself may be more than one species! The butterflies are always single-brooded and emerge when their hosts (which are their principal, if not sole nectar sources) are in bloom, generally in late spring-early summer. Males are avid puddlers. The alpine population on Castle Peak, included in battoides for purposes of this transect, has been considered a separate species, Euphilotes ancilla pseudointermedia. It cannot readily be distinguished from E. battoides intermedia without examining the genitalia. A fascinating evolutionary puzzle, but you enter the taxonomy at your peril!

Euphilotes enoptes

admin — Sun, 28 May 2006 18:09:10 +0000

Like the Square-Spotted Blue, this is a "complex" of entities in evolutionary ferment. However, along our transect there is no such complexity. All of our populations, from the Sierra foothills over the crest, feed on the Eriogonum nudum group of Wild Buckwheats and have very similar life histories - one brood in late spring-early summer, matching the blooming time of the host. Adults rarely stray more than a few feet from the host, although males do puddle. They mate on the host and roost on it for the night. Eriogonum nudum is a very common, widespread plant, but the butterfly is highly colonial and the colonies are very stable. There is plenty of intrapopulation variation. Where this species and the Square-Spotted Blue co-occur (as at Lang Crossing), both host association and wing phenotypes should allow for easy discrimination. If not, the genitalia are decisive. Although E. enoptes occurs in the North Coast Range, there are no known populations near Gates Canyon.

Art Shapiro's Butterfly Site - Euphilotes

Euphilotes battoides

Euphilotes enoptes