North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Callophrys augustinus is resident across Northern North America, southward along the eastern and western United States; the southwestern distribution is patchy and extends into Mexico (Scott 1986). Habitats are upper transition to Hudsonian zone open woods, scrub or bogs; in southwest and in California upper Sonoran to transition zone chaparral or open woods. Host plants are can be tree, vine, shrub and herb species from many families, including Ericaceae, Rhamnaceae, Cuscutaceae, Polygonaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, Rosacea, Liliaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant flower singly. Larvae eat flowers and fruits and leaves if starving. Individuals overwinter as pupae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time May 30-early June in the northern and high altitude parts of the range, late Mar-Apr15 in Georgia, April1-May30 in the southwest (Scott 1986).
Conservation Status
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Not of concern.
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Cyclicity
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One brood annually the flight period peaking in early May to early June.
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Distribution
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A boreal transcontinental species, found from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to Georgia in the east and northern Mexico in the mountainous regions of the west(Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999). Absent from most of the Great Plains (Opler 1999).
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General Description
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"There are two other elfin species with only a single, irregular line through the middle of the hindwing underside, the Hoary (C. polia), and Moss's (C. mossii). The Brown Elfin, however, has a reddish outer half of the hindwing underside, while the Hoary is grey and Moss's is brown in this respect. Brown Elfins also lack the white border to the ventral hindwing median line found in Moss's.
Most Alberta populations are the nominate subspecies, with subspecies iroides (Boisduval) inhabiting the southern mountain region. Iroides may in fact be a species separate from augustinus (Kondla 1999, Guppy & Shepard 2001).
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Habitat
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A species of coniferous forest openings, with isolated prairie badlands populations.
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Life Cycle
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Eggs are green when first laid, and hatch within about five days (Cook 1906). The larva varies from olive- to yellowish-green, with a yellow dorsal stripe and oblique bands (Layberry et al. 1998); it feeds on flowers and developing fruits (Cook 1906). The pupa is mottled brown and overwinters on the ground among plant litter (Cook 1906). Adults are one of the first butterflies to emerge in the spring, and stay close to patches of their larval foodplant.
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Trophic Strategy
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Larvae feed on plants of the heather family (Ericaceae), including blue- and cranberries (Vaccinium spp.)and labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) (Bird et al. 1995), but most often associated with bearberry (Arctospahylus uva-ursi) in Alberta. Adults sip moisture from damp earth (Layberry et al. 1998) and nectar at bearberry flowers.
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Callophrys augustinus
provided by wikipedia EN
Callophrys augustinus, the brown elfin, is butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Newfoundland north and west through the northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska. To the south it ranges in Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and northern Alabama, further south through the western mountains to northern Baja California in Mexico.[3] Subspecies iroides is known as the western elfin.
The wingspan is 22–29 mm. Adults are on wing from early May to early June in one generation.[4] They feed on flower nectar from various species, including Vaccinium, Sanicula arctopoides, Lindera, Salix, Barbarea and Prunus americana.
The larvae feed on Ericaceae species, including Vaccinium vacillans and Ledum groenlandicum in the east. They feed on a wide variety of plants in the west, including Arbutus and Cuscuta species. They feed on the flowers and fruits of their host plant. Pupation takes place in the litter at the base of the host plant. Hibernation takes place in the pupal stage.
Subspecies
- Callophrys augustinus augustinus
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Callophrys augustinus helenae (dos Passos, 1943) (Newfoundland)
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Callophrys augustinus croesioides (Scudder, 1876)
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Callophrys augustinus iroides (Boisduval, 1852) (British Columbia to California)
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Callophrys augustinus annettae (dos Passos, 1943) (New Mexico)
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Callophrys augustinus concava Austin, 1998 (Nevada)
References
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Callophrys augustinus: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Callophrys augustinus, the brown elfin, is butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Newfoundland north and west through the northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska. To the south it ranges in Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and northern Alabama, further south through the western mountains to northern Baja California in Mexico. Subspecies iroides is known as the western elfin.
The wingspan is 22–29 mm. Adults are on wing from early May to early June in one generation. They feed on flower nectar from various species, including Vaccinium, Sanicula arctopoides, Lindera, Salix, Barbarea and Prunus americana.
The larvae feed on Ericaceae species, including Vaccinium vacillans and Ledum groenlandicum in the east. They feed on a wide variety of plants in the west, including Arbutus and Cuscuta species. They feed on the flowers and fruits of their host plant. Pupation takes place in the litter at the base of the host plant. Hibernation takes place in the pupal stage.
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