Sierra Nevada Blue

There are two species of butterfly with the common English name of "Sierra Nevada Blue". The Spanish Sierra Nevada Blue (Polyommatus golgus) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to Spain. The Sierra Nevada Blue, with habitat in the Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, is an endangered species.

The US Sierra Nevada Blue is found in the mountains from Central California to Oregon. Plebejus podarce (C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865) Family: Lycaenidae Subfamily: Polyommatinae Identification: Upperside of male gray-blue, female red-brown. Underside of forewing with black arrowhead-shaped spots that point inward. Hindwing with discal spot not black. Life History: Eggs are laid singly on leaves, bracts, or sepals of the host plant. Caterpillars or chrysalids hibernate. Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 inches (2.2 - 2.6 cm). Caterpillar Hosts: Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon). Adult Food: Flower nectar including yellow composites and bistort. Habitat: Subalpine meadows. Range: Southern Oregon to central California in Klamath Range and Sierra Nevada. Conservation: Not usually of conservation concern but the meadow habitat of subspecies podarce in California may be negatively affected by trampling from grazing cattle and hikers. NCGR: G3,G4 - . Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range OR Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. All subspecies are of conservation concern. Management Needs: Study impact of hikers and cattle grazing on habitat and populations. Comment: The Committee on Scientific Names of North American Butterflies considers podarce to be a subspecies of A. glandon.

Source: www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Plebejus-podarce