E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Callophrys eryphon Scudder, 1872
Elfins; Western Pine Elfin
Family: Lycaenidae (Gossamer Wings)

Species account authors: Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard.
Extracted from Butterflies of British Columbia

Introduction to the Lepidoptera of BC

The Families of Lepidoptera of BC
Introduction to the Butterflies of BC

Distribution of Callophrys eryphon in British Columbia

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Species Information

Adult

The Western Pine Elfin is slightly larger than other elfin species. The pattern of the ventral hindwing is very distinctive. The submarginal area is a row of connected black chevrons accented by a contiguous lateral row of tawny chevrons.

Immature Stages

Hardy (1959a) described the BC immatures. The egg is 0.75 mm x 0.50 mm, and thus not as flat as the egg of Moss' Elfin. The mature larva has a brown head and rich velvet green body with two cream white stripes on each side. The body is overlaid with fine brown hairs.

Subspecies

Most BC populations are the nominate subspecies, I.e. eryphon (Boisduval, 1852); TL: Hwy. 70 at Soda Creek, Plumas Co., CA (Emmel et al. 1998a). Vancouver Island and Lower Fraser Valley populations are I.e. sheltonensis Chermock & Frechin, 1948 (TL: Shelton [near Olympia], WA)

Genus Description

The name Incisalia is of unknown derivation. The common name "elfins" refers to their small size and flight habits that make them seem to magically appear and disappear. It was first used for the genus by Scudder (1875).

Species of the genus Incisalia lack tails on the hindwing and green colouring on the ventral hindwings. The tips of the valves are "capped," meaning that they have a terminal thickening not found in the genera Callophrys, Mitoura, or Loranthomitoura. The cornuti are neither slender nor spatulate. This is a Nearctic genus, with nine species. Six species occur in BC.

Biology

Most individuals are seen flying from early May to early June. In anyone season, the Western Pine Elfin emerges later than other Incisalia species. Adults take nectar from Salix prolixa. Eggs laid on 24 May at the base of needles of the larval foodplant, Pinus contorta, hatched on 1 June (Hardy 1959a). Young larvae fed on the base of the pine needles, eating through the needle, which dropped off. Later instars fed on the surface of needles. By 20 July the larvae were mature and pupated in the lab among debris at the bottom of the breeding cage. The adults emerged on 26-28 March the following year. The Forest Insect Survey has also reared the Western Pine Elfin from P. ponderosa and P. monticola.

Habitat

The Western Pine Elfin is found from the Nass River and Fort Nelson, south throughout BC in mature pine stands.

Distribution

The Western Pine Elfin occurs from central BC south to southern CA and NM. Since Klots (1951) did not recognize this species in eastern North America, it may have invaded east to NB and New England in historic times.

Status Information

Scientific Name	Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Callophrys eryphon	Native	S5	Yellow	Not Listed
Callophrys eryphon eryphon	Native	S5	Yellow	Not Listed
Callophrys eryphon sheltonensis	Native	S3	Blue	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Genetic and lineage information (NCBI Taxonomy Browser)

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Related Databases

Butterflies and Moths of North America
Butterflies of Canada
Butterflies of America

General References

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Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2024-11-08 1:49:49 PM]

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