Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375
Plebejus melissa
This record describes Plebejus melissa (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: above, female brown with blue tinge; male blue with narrow dark border. Red-orange submarginal row is continuous. In the eastern subspecies samuelis (Karner Blue) this row is divided into separate spots. Below, continuous black margin along outer margin of both wings. Larva: body green with darker green dorsal stripe and pale lateral stripe; surface covered with short hairs
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
Habitat
in the west, subspecies melissa occurs in open prairies and sagebrush, occasionally in dry wood edges and clearings in the east, subspecies samuelis is found in oak savannas, oak-pine barrens, and other open areas with sandy soil
Geographic Range
"The small, isolated colonies of the Eastern population (subspecies samuelis ) occur from southern New Hampshire and central New York west to Wisconsin. The western population (subspecies melissa ) is found in the Intermountain West from Canada to Baja California, plains, and prairies east to northwestern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota." - butterfliesandmoths.org
Seasonal Activity
adults of subspecies melissa fly from mid-May to October in the west (two or three broods) adults of subspecies samuelis fly from mid-May to early August in the east (two broods)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae of subspecies samuelis feed only on Wild Lupine ( Lupinus perennis ) larvae of the other subspecies feed on several Lupinus species and other members of the Pea family (Fabaceae) larvae are tended by ants who feed on the larvae's sugary secretions
Life History
eggs are laid on or near the hostplant; adults live for one or two weeks; two or three generations per year; overwinters as an egg or newly-emerged larva
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plebejus melissa. 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 Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason , Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod
Frequently Asked Questions About Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375
What is Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375?
Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375 (Plebejus melissa) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375?
wingspan 22-35 mm in United States ( nearctica.com ); 18-28 mm in Canada ( CBIF )
How do you identify Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375?
Adult: above, female brown with blue tinge; male blue with narrow dark border. Red-orange submarginal row is continuous. In the eastern subspecies samuelis (Karner Blue) this row is divided into separate spots. Below, continuous black margin along outer margin of both wings. Larva: body green with darker green dorsal stripe and pale lateral stripe; surface covered with short hairs
Where is Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | in the west, subspecies melissa occurs in open prairies and sagebrush, occasionally in dry wood edges and clearings in the east, subspecies samuelis is found in oak savannas, oak-pine barrens, and other open areas with sandy soil |
| Range | The small, isolated colonies of the Eastern population (subspecies samuelis ) occur from southern New Hampshire and central New York west to Wisconsin. The western population (subspecies melissa ) is found in the Intermountain West from Canada to Baja California, plains, and prairies east to northwestern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota. - butterfliesandmoths.org |
What does Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375 eat?
The diet of the Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375 includes larvae of subspecies samuelis feed only on Wild Lupine ( Lupinus perennis ) larvae of the other subspecies feed on several Lupinus species and other members of the Pea family (Fabaceae) larvae are tended by ants who feed on the larvae's sugary secretions.
When is Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375 active?
Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375: seasonal activity - adults of subspecies melissa fly from mid-May to October in the west (two or three broods) adults of subspecies samuelis fly from mid-May to early August in the east (two broods).
What is the life cycle of a Melissa Blue - Hodges#4375?
eggs are laid on or near the hostplant; adults live for one or two weeks; two or three generations per year; overwinters as an egg or newly-emerged larva