Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1
Plebejus anna
This record describes Plebejus anna (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguishable from Northern Blue - Plebejus idas only by more westerly distribution. From other blues by (usually) some marginal orange on ventral hind and front wings. No obvious dark spot on middle of upper front wings. Underside tending to bluish gray. Most similar to mostly more lowland/eastern Melissa Blue - Plebejus melissa (and it's segregates), which tends to be slightly grayish or brownish below with markings all more bold and contrasting.
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
Cascades and California Sierras south from southern British Columbia and west to coast, in boreal and mountain habitats.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plebejus anna. 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 Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Nick Block , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1
What is Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1?
Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1 (Plebejus anna) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1?
Distinguishable from Northern Blue - Plebejus idas only by more westerly distribution. From other blues by (usually) some marginal orange on ventral hind and front wings. No obvious dark spot on middle of upper front wings. Underside tending to bluish gray. Most similar to mostly more lowland/eastern Melissa Blue - Plebejus melissa (and it's segregates), which tends to be slightly grayish or brownish below with markings all more bold and contrasting.
Where is Anna's Blue - Hodges#4374.1 found?
Range: Cascades and California Sierras south from southern British Columbia and west to coast, in boreal and mountain habitats.