Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Acmon blue

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Class
  
Insecta

Family
  
Lycaenidae

Scientific name
  
Plebejus acmon

Phylum
  
Arthropoda

Order
  
Lepidoptera

Genus
  
Plebejus

Rank
  
Species

Acmon blue AcmonBluejpg

Similar
  
Western tailed‑blue, Phyciodes mylitta, West Coast lady, Aricia icarioides, Papilio eurymedon

Acmon blue butterfly ovipositing on buckwheat


Plebejus acmon, the Acmon blue, is a North American butterfly. It ranges mainly in California but can be seen north to Oregon and south through Baja California. The tops of the wings are blue with dark edges in males and brown in females. Its underside is white with black spots for both sexes with a red-orange band on the hindwing. Adults feed on nectar while caterpillars can feed on buckwheats, lupines, trefoils, and milkvetches.

Acmon blue Acmon Blue Butterfly Plebejus Acmon Photograph by Kjell B Sandved

Like many other lycaenid butterflies, it has a mutualistic relationship with ants, who protect Acmon blue larvae in exchange for honeydew that the larvae secretions.

Acmon blue Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon
Acmon blue nathistocbiouciedulepidoptlycaenidacmongif

Acmon blue Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon


Acmon blue Acmon Blue Plebejus acmon

References

Acmon blue Wikipedia