Callophrys augustinus

Callophrys augustinus is resident across Northern North America, southward along the eastern and western United States; the southwestern distribution is patchy and extends into Mexico (Scott 1986). Habitats are upper transition to Hudsonian zone open woods, scrub or bogs; in southwest and in California upper Sonoran to transition zone chaparral or open woods. Host plants are can be tree, vine, shrub and herb species from many families, including Ericaceae, Rhamnaceae, Cuscutaceae, Polygonaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, Rosacea, Liliaceae. Eggs are laid on the host plant flower singly. Larvae eat flowers and fruits and leaves if starving. Individuals overwinter as pupae. There is one flight each year with the approximate flight time May 30-early June in the northern and high altitude parts of the range, late Mar-Apr15 in Georgia, April1-May30 in the southwest (Scott 1986).

There are two other elfin species with only a single, irregular line through the middle of the hindwing underside, the Hoary (C. polia), and Moss's (C. mossii). The Brown Elfin, however, has a reddish outer half of the hindwing underside, while the Hoary is grey and Moss's is brown in this respect. Brown Elfins also lack the white border to the ventral hindwing median line found in Moss's. Most Alberta populations are the nominate subspecies, with subspecies iroides (Boisduval) inhabiting the southern mountain region. Iroides may in fact be a species separate from augustinus (Kondla 1999, Guppy & Shepard 2001). 

A boreal transcontinental species, found from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to Georgia in the east and northern Mexico in the mountainous regions of the west(Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999). Absent from most of the Great Plains (Opler 1999).

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: (>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)) Newfoundland north and west to Alaska; thence south to Cali- fornia, New Mexico, Michigan, and Georgia.

A species of coniferous forest openings, with isolated prairie badlands populations.

Comments: Habitat varies regionally, in part in response to differences in foodplant. In the Rockies and eastward generally acid woodland, acid brushy places, acid barrens, or bogs with abundant low heaths or in some places with mountain laurel. When in dry true forest, as sometimes in southern New Jersey, generally becomes mostly confined to edges, openings and paths once the canopy starts to close in.

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Larvae feed on plants of the heather family (Ericaceae), including blue- and cranberries (Vaccinium spp.)and labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) (Bird et al. 1995), but most often associated with bearberry (Arctospahylus uva-ursi) in Alberta. Adults sip moisture from damp earth (Layberry et al. 1998) and nectar at bearberry flowers.

Comments: Ericaceae only in much of range. Generally lowbush blueberry or other low heaths eastward. Also mountain laurel in Ohio (Iftner, et al., 1992) and observed with this in Connecticut by Schweitzer and others. Does not normally use highbush blueberry. West of the Rockies also other families.

Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations.

Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300

10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals

Males perch for females (Scott, 1986).

One brood annually the flight period peaking in early May to early June.

Eggs are green when first laid, and hatch within about five days (Cook 1906). The larva varies from olive- to yellowish-green, with a yellow dorsal stripe and oblique bands (Layberry et al. 1998); it feeds on flowers and developing fruits (Cook 1906). The pupa is mottled brown and overwinters on the ground among plant litter (Cook 1906). Adults are one of the first butterflies to emerge in the spring, and stay close to patches of their larval foodplant.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 28
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not of concern.

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Wide-ranging abundant species.

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed