| Eastern Pine Elfin | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Callophrys |
| Species: | C. niphon |
| Binomial name | |
| Callophrys niphon (Hübner, [1823]) |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon) is a species of Lycaenidae that is native to North America.
Contents |
Similar to the Western Pine Elfin but has two dark bars instead of one in the forewing underside cell with strong patterning on the underside. The wingspan ranges from 22–27 mm (0.87–1.1 in).[1]
There is one flight from March–April in the south which occurs between mid May to early June in the north.[1] Females will lay eggs singly on flower buds. The caterpillars eat both the flower and the developing seedpods. Chrysalids hibernate in loosely formed cocoons beneath litter below the plant. Larval foods include Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) and White Pine (Pinus strobus).[1]
They range in most of eastern United States and across the southern parts of the provinces of Canada.[1] Within this range they tend to stick sandy areas with pine trees.[1]