Shasta blue

Shasta blue
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Icaricia
Species:
I. shasta
Binomial name
Icaricia shasta
(W.H. Edwards, 1862)
Synonyms
  • Lycaena shasta Edwards, 1862
  • Lycaena zelmira C. & R. Felder, [1865]
  • Lycaena calchas Behr, 1867
  • Rusticus shasta (Edwards, 1862)
  • Aricia shasta (Edwards, 1862)
  • Lycaeides shasta (Edwards, 1862)
  • Plebejus shasta (Edwards, 1862)

Icaricia shasta, the Shasta blue,[1] is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from the northwestern United States to southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.[2]

The wingspan is 20–22 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August.[2]

The larvae feed on Lupinus lyalli, Astragalus spatulatus, Astragalus calycosus, and Trifolium dasphyllum.[3]

Subspecies

There are seven subspecies of Icaricia shasta.[1]

  • I. s. charlestonensis Austin, 1980
  • I. s. calchas (Behr, 1867)
  • I. s. minnehaha (Scudder, 1874)
  • I. s. pallidissima (Austin in T. Emmel, 1998)
  • I. s. pitkinensis Ferris, 1976
  • I. s. platazul Scott, 2006
  • I. s. shasta (W. H. Edwards, 1862)

References

  1. ^ a b "Plebejus shasta Standard Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b Shasta Blue, Butterflies of Canada
  3. ^ Aricia at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera
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