Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1
Euphilotes mojave
This record describes Euphilotes mojave (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguishable from Plebejus acmon / lubpinus by the lack of metalic scaling in the marginal black spots on the ventral hind wing, and by the fringes interrupbed by dark color at the ends of many of the veins. Distinguished from Euphilotes enoptes by location.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
- Subfamily
- Polyommatinae
- Genus
- Euphilotes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Mojave Desert region in se. California, s. Nevada, sw. Utah, and nw. Arizona.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Traditionally considered as a geographic subspecies of the Dotted Blue - Euphilotes enoptes . Recently treated by some authors at species ranking.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euphilotes mojave. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz
Frequently Asked Questions About Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1
What is Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1?
Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1 (Euphilotes mojave) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1?
Distinguishable from Plebejus acmon / lubpinus by the lack of metalic scaling in the marginal black spots on the ventral hind wing, and by the fringes interrupbed by dark color at the ends of many of the veins. Distinguished from Euphilotes enoptes by location.
Where is Mojave Dotted Blue - Hodges#4367.1 found?
Range: Mojave Desert region in se. California, s. Nevada, sw. Utah, and nw. Arizona.