- Western Pine Elfin
Taxobox
name = Western Pine Elfin
status = NE
status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Lepidoptera
familia =Lycaenidae
genus = "Callophrys "
species = "C. eryphron"
binomial = "Callophrys eryphron"
binomial_authority = (Boisduval,1852)The Western Pine Elfin "(Callophrys eryphron)" is aNorth America nbutterfly that ranges fromBritish Columbia east toMaine and south to southernCalifornia ,Arizona , andNew Mexico . Males are brown and females are orange-brown, with both having bold patterned hind wings. The top of the wings have dark bars with a lighter chevron shaped margin. The body is 19-32 mm in length and has no tail. This butterfly is found in naturalpine woods and evergreen forests in the territory (area of land) they inhabit. In the northwestUSA they are found nesting in lodgepole pines and can be seen perched on shrubs and smaller trees while searching for food or looking for a mate. The Western Pine Elfin is seldom seen outside its natural habitat. They feed on flowernectar including wildblueberries ,milkweed andclover .Reproduction
The adults emerge from the
caterpillar hibernation stage and have one flight cycle in early spring from March to June and the female lays eggs on the base of new pine needles. The adult pair produce only one brood. The mature larvae are 15mm long. The head of the caterpillar is green and the fine hair covered body is velvet green with cream to yellow stripes.It is a defoliatinginsect that feeds on the young pine needles until it enters hibernation in late July or August.tatus
The Western Pine Elfin has few predators and its conservation status is globally secure with no real threats.
External links
* [http://www.enature.com/flashcard/show_flash_card.asp?recordNumber=BU0158 Western Pine Elfin]
* [http://weaselhead.org/profile/?s=1919 Talk about Wildlife]
* [http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/entomology/defoliators/blues/pine_elfin_e.html Conifer Defoliating Insects of British Columbia]
* [http://home.sprintmail.com/~awiner/butterflies/WesternPineElfin.html Large Images of Western Pine Elfins]
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