Echinargus isola

Echinargus isola, or Reakirt's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is the sole representative of the monotypic genus Echinargus. It is found in Central America and the extreme southern U.S. Echinargus isola migrates regularly throughout most of the U.S. almost to the Canada–United States border, and very rarely into the southern prairies.[1]

Reakirt's blue
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Echinargus

Nabokov, 1945
Species:
E. isola
Binomial name
Echinargus isola
(Reakirt, [1867])
Synonyms
  • Lycaena isola Reakirt, [1867]
  • Hemiargus isola
  • Lycaena nyagora Boisduval, 1870
  • Lycaena alce Edwards, 1871

The wingspan is 16–23 mm. Adults are on wing from June to October in the north and year round in south.[1] Its habitats include fields, gardens, open areas, and host plants.[2]

The larvae feed on Fabaceae, particularly mesquites (Prosopis species).[1] Adults feed on flower nectar from spearmint, white sweet clover, and a variety of other herbs.[2]

Subspecies
  • Echinargus isola isola
  • Echinargus isola alce (Edwards, 1871) (Colorado)

References
  1. Reakirt's Blue, Butterflies of Canada
  2. "Echinargus isola". explorer.natureserve.org.
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