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Callophrys polia Scudder, 1872
Elfins; Hoary 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
Introduction to the Butterflies of BC
The Families of Lepidoptera of BC

Photograph

© Norbert Kondla     (Photo ID #4838)

Map

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Distribution of Callophrys polia in British Columbia.
(Click on the map to view a larger version.)
Source: Butterflies of British Columbia by Crispin Guppy and Jon Shepard © Royal BC Museum

Species Information


Adult

The Hoary Elfin's ventral hindwings have a post-median and submarginal area of continuous grey colour. In addition, this is the only BC elfin where the uppersides of the wings is similar for the two sexes (dark brown in both).

Immature Stages

Cook (1908) partially described the immatures from New York. The egg is flat, with the micropyle in a deep pit. The surface of the egg is also deeply pitted.

Subspecies

The Rocky Mountain populations were differentiated as the subspecies I.p. obscura Ferris and Fisher, 1973, but we cannot separate BC material from the nominate subspecies (TL: Lakehurst, NJ).

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


The Hoary Elfin flies from mid-April to early June. Eggs are laid at the base of the flower buds of the larval foodplant, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Cook 1908). In BC the Hoary Elfin is always found in association with this plant. The eggs hatch quickly and the mature larvae pupate within six weeks. The pupae remain dormant until the following spring.

Habitat


The Hoary Elfin has been recorded at Atlin and in the Peace River region and in the Southern Interior and the Kootenays. It undoubtedly occurs throughout most of the province east of the Coast Ranges, but it emerges very early in the spring and has been overlooked. It occurs in mature pine stands where the larval foodplant, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, grows.

Distribution

Distribution

The Hoary Elfin ranges from central AK to NS. In the Rocky Mountains it is found south to CO and in the east south to the Great Lakes and VA in the Appalachians. Populations on the coast of northern CA, OR, and WA are disjunct.

Status Information

Origin StatusProvincial StatusBC List
(Red Blue List)		COSEWIC
UnlistedUnlistedUnlistedUnlisted



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