Shasta blue explained

Icaricia shasta, the Shasta blue,^[1] is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from the northwestern United States to southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The wingspan is 20–22 mm. Adults are on wing from June to August.^[2]

The larvae feed on Lupinus lyalli, Astragalus spatulatus, Astragalus calycosus, and Trifolium dasphyllum.^[3]

Subspecies

There are seven subspecies of Icaricia shasta.^[1]

• I. s. charlestonensis Austin, 1980
• I. s. calchas (Behr, 1867)
• I. s. minnehaha (Scudder, 1874)
• I. s. pallidissima (Austin in T. Emmel, 1998)
• I. s. pitkinensis Ferris, 1976
• I. s. platazul Scott, 2006
• I. s. shasta (W. H. Edwards, 1862)

External links

• Butterflies and Moths of North America: Shasta blue

Notes and References

1. Web site: Plebejus shasta Standard Report. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 27 May 2014.
2. http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/ShastaBlue_e.php Shasta Blue
3. http://www.funet.fi/pub/sci/bio/life/insecta/lepidoptera/ditrysia/papilionoidea/lycaenidae/polyommatinae/aricia/index.html Aricia