Status (as of 1976): EndangeredSmith’s Blue is a small butterfly, usually having a wingspan of less than one inch. The males and females are distinct looking. In males, the dorsal side of the wings is bright blue while females have light brown dorsal wings with black and orange spots.
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Threats to the SpeciesSmith’s Blue Butterfly is listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act, but the California Endangered Species Act does not allow for the listing of insects. The major threat to this species is habitat loss, especially when this leads to loss of their obligate host plants.
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Range and HabitatHabitat: Smith’s Blue is found in two habitat types in California: coastal sand dunes and cliff chaparral. These habitats are primarily threatened by urbanization, recreation, and invasive plant species.
Range: This species is largely found in the Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties. As explained in the following section, Smith’s Blue Butterflies require very specific interactions to survive, which limits their habitat range. |
Behavior and Species InteractionsHerbivory and nectar source: Smith’s Blue Butterfly is very specialized in its species interactions. It relies on sea cliff buckwheat (Eriogonum parvifolium) and seaside buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium) for survival. These two species of buckwheat are as its obligate host plant, primary nectar source for adults, and mating site. Adults tend to spend most of their lives within 200 feet of the host plant from which they emerged.
Symbiosis: Smith’s Blue Butterfly larvae have a symbiotic relationship with ants. Ants protect the larvae from predatory spiders and parasitic wasps, and the larvae excrete sugars to feed the ants in exchange for their protection. |
Life CycleLate Summer
Adults emerge from their pupae. Adults mate and females lay their eggs soon after. Early Autumn Eggs hatch, feed on their host plant, and are protected by ants (See the symbiosis section for details.) Winter and Spring Larvae remain dormant for ten months until the following bring. Late Spring and Early Summer Flight season begins. Buckwheats flower just in time for adults to emerge. |
Resources
- Arnold, R.A., 1983. Ecological studies of six endangered butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae): Island biogeography, patch dynamics, and design of habitat preserves. University of California Publications in Entomology 99: 1-161.
- "Blues: Smith’s Blue (Euphilotes Enoptes Smithi)." The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The Xerces Society, n.d. Web.
- "Smith's Blue Butterfly Draft Recovery Plan." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.): n. pg. Web.