Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380
Plebejus acmon
This record describes Plebejus acmon (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Male distinguished from the similar Lupine Blue (called Plebejus lupini by Nearctica.com but Icaricia lupini by CBIF) by the paler blue upperside of wings, and the absence of a dark discal spot on the upperside of the hindwings.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
- Subfamily
- Polyommatinae
- Genus
- Plebejus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Restricted mostly to California and Oregon, whereas the range of the similar Lupine Blue extends over most of western US and adjacent parts of Canada.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Acmon is the name of one of a pair of mischevious monkey-like characters ( Cercopes , see also Wikipedia ) in Greek/Roman mythology.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plebejus acmon. 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 Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by cotinis , Steve Nanz , Lynette Elliott , Hartmut Wisch , Harsi S. Parker
Frequently Asked Questions About Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380
What is Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380?
Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380 (Plebejus acmon) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380?
Male distinguished from the similar Lupine Blue (called Plebejus lupini by Nearctica.com but Icaricia lupini by CBIF) by the paler blue upperside of wings, and the absence of a dark discal spot on the upperside of the hindwings.
Where is Acmon Blue - Hodges#4380 found?
Range: Restricted mostly to California and Oregon, whereas the range of the similar Lupine Blue extends over most of western US and adjacent parts of Canada.