Spalding's Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes spaldingi [Barnes & McDunnough])
Wing span: 1 - 1 1/8 inches (2.5 - 2.9 cm).
Identification: Upperside of male blue with wide dark border; female brown with orange band on both fore- and hindwings. Underside of both sexes gray with black spots and orange marginal bands on both wings.
Life history: Males patrol erratically for females.
Flight: One brood from June-July.
Caterpillar hosts: Eriogonum racemosum in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae).
Adult food: Nectar from flowers including Eriogonum jamesi.
Habitat: Rocky outcrops on elevated pinyon-juniper plateaus.
Range: Northeastern New Mexico, northern Arizona, southwest Colorado, Utah, and western Nevada.
Conservation: Many populations on public lands are not in need of specific protection.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management needs: Monitor populations and habitats for invasion of exotic plants such as cheatgrass.
References:
Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates. Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Bailowitz, R. A. and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of Southeastern Arizona. Tucson, Ariz.: Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc. Garth, J.S. 1950. Butterflies of Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon Natural History Association, Grand Canyon, Ariz. Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass. Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. Privately published, Denver, Colo. Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.