Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369
Euphilotes rita
This record describes Euphilotes rita (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upperside of male bright lilac-blue with dark medium-wide borders; corner of hindwing has a small orange patch and small marginal spots. Upperside of female brown with broad orange marginal band. Underside of both sexes off-white
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
Habitat
Arid areas such as desert foothills and shortgrass prairie.
Geographic Range
Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Also found in northern Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
One flight from July to late September
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larva; Wild buckwheat species including Wright's buckwheat, Effuse Buckwheat, and others. Adults; Nectar from Eriogonum flowers.
Life History
Rita Dotted-Blues stay near their host plants. Males patrol around the plants all day to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers of the host. Caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits, and are tended by ants.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euphilotes rita. 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 Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369 (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jason D. Roberts; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369
What is Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369?
Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369 (Euphilotes rita) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369?
17 - 22mm
How do you identify Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369?
Upperside of male bright lilac-blue with dark medium-wide borders; corner of hindwing has a small orange patch and small marginal spots. Upperside of female brown with broad orange marginal band. Underside of both sexes off-white
Where is Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Arid areas such as desert foothills and shortgrass prairie. |
| Range | Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Also found in northern Mexico. |
What does Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369 eat?
The diet of the Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369 includes Larva; Wild buckwheat species including Wright's buckwheat, Effuse Buckwheat, and others. Adults; Nectar from Eriogonum flowers..
When is Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369 active?
Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369: seasonal activity - One flight from July to late September.
What is the life cycle of a Rita's Blue - Hodges#4369?
Rita Dotted-Blues stay near their host plants. Males patrol around the plants all day to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flowers of the host. Caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits, and are tended by ants.