Pumice Dotted-Blue (Philotiella leona [Hammon and McCorkle])
Wing span: 3/4 - 1 inch (1.9 - 2.5 cm).
Identification: Tiny. Upperside of male dark dusky blue on basal half, >outer portions black; female is black with a brown cast. Underside white >with large spots on forewing, small spots on hindwing.
Life history: Probably very similar to that of the Small Dotted-blue.
Flight: One flight from mid-June to early July.
Caterpillar host: Eriogonum spergulinum in the buckwheat family >(Polygonaceae).
Adult food: Flower nectar, observed to be from flowers of Epilobium.
Habitat: Ash fields with low scrubby vegetation and open areas of ash.
Range: Klamath County, Oregon.
Conservation: All populations should be conserved and monitored.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G1 -
Management needs: Determine effects of exotic plants and fire on extant populations.
Reference:
Hammond, Paul C. and David V. McCorkle. 2000. A new species of Philotiella from the Oregon Cascade Range (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).Holarctic Lepidoptera 6(2): 77-82.
Author: Paul A. Opler
State and Regional References:
Dornfeld, E. J. 1980. The Butterflies of Oregon. Forest Grove, Ore., Timber Press. Hinchliff, J. 1994. An atlas of Oregon Butterflies. Oregon State University Bookstore, Corvallis. Hinchliff, J. 1994. The distribution of the butterflies of Oregon. Evergreen Aurelians. Oregon State University Bookstore, Corvallis, 176 pp. + map. 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.