''Euphilotes pallescens'', the pale blue, pallid blue or pallid dotted blue, is a species of
butterfly of the family
Lycaenidae. It is found in the United States in southeastern
California,
Nevada, southern
Utah and northern
Arizona.
Butterflies and Moths of North America
/ref>
The wingspan is 16–21 mm. The upperside of the males is pale blue, while the upperside of the females is grayish brown with gray overscales on the wing bases. The underside is almost white with black spots. There usually is an orange marginal hindwing band. Adults are on wing from July to September in one generation per year. They feed on the flower nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
of '' Eriogonum'' species.
The larvae feed on the flowers and fruits of '' Eriogonum'' species, including '' E. kearneyi'', '' E. microthecum'' and '' E. plumatella''. The larvae are tended by ants.
Subspecies
*''Euphilotes pallescens pallescens''
*''Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana
The Sand Mountain blue (''Euphilotes pallescens arenamontana'') is a lycaenid butterfly of the "blue" subfamily that is only found around the Sand Mountain Recreation Area near Fallon, Nevada. It is a subspecies of the pallid blue (''Euphilot ...
'' Austin, 1998 Sand Mountain blue
*''Euphilotes pallescens elvirae'' (Mattoni, 1966)
References
Butterflies described in 1955
Euphilotes
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