Brephidium isophthalma  var. pseudofoea 

Eastern Pigmy Blue

Synonym(s): Lycaena pseudofea, Brephidium pseudofea

Florida native

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This is the smallest butterfly in the eastern United States. Found near saltwater, usually in salt marshes along much of the Florida coast. From Florida the range of the eastern pygmy blue extends along the Gulf Coast into Louisiana and along the Atlantic into South Carolina.
The wings are brown with a row of four black spots near the margin of the hindwing. On the underside, these black spots have white highlights. The underside also has various white dashes and circles. The wingspan is from 2-2.2 cm (3/4 - 7/8 in.). The eggs are pale blue-green and the larvae are green with small white tubercles that closely match the pattern of glasswort, one of the host plants.
While the primary host plant is Salicornia bigelovii - annual glasswort - Perennial glasswort - Sarcocornia ambigua - and saltwort - Batis maritimaare also used.

Brephidium isophthalma is a member of the Lycaenidae - Gossamer-winged Butterflies family.

For more information on this species, visit the following link:
UF Entomology & Nematology Featured Creatures website page for this species

Date record last modified: Aug 07, 2016