Echinargus isola

Echinargus isola, or Reakirt's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is the sole representative of the monotypic genus Echinargus. It is found in Central America and the extreme southern U.S. Echinargus isola migrates regularly throughout most of the U.S. almost to the Canada–United States border, and very rarely into the southern prairies.[1]

Reakirt's blue
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Echinargus

Bálint, 1991
Species:
E. isola
Binomial name
Echinargus isola
(Reakirt, [1867])
Synonyms
  • Lycaena isola Reakirt, [1867]
  • Hemiargus isola
  • Lycaena nyagora Boisduval, 1870
  • Lycaena alce Edwards, 1871

The wingspan is 16–23 mm. Adults are on wing from June to October in the north and year round in south.[1]

The larva feed on Fabaceae, particularly mesquites (Prosopis species).[1]

Subspecies
  • Echinargus isola isola
  • Echinargus isola alce (Edwards, 1871) (Colorado)

References
  1. Reakirt's Blue, Butterflies of Canada
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