Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379
Plebejus shasta
This record describes Plebejus shasta (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
includes the federally endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly ( Icaricia shasta charlestonensis )
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
w US n. of AZ-NM - Map MPG
Seasonal Activity
mostly: June-Aug (MPG data)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Plebejus shasta shasta (W. H. Edwards, 1862) - name per BOA Icaricia shasta (Edwards, 1862) - name per MPG
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Plebejus shasta. 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 Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379
What is Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379?
Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379 (Plebejus shasta) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379 found?
Range: w US n. of AZ-NM - Map MPG
When is Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379 active?
Shasta Blue - Hodges#4379: seasonal activity - mostly: June-Aug (MPG data).