The Melissa Blue Butterfly belongs to the family Lycaenidae, which means “gossamer wings.” There are a dozen similar species, some of which are hard to tell apart. The photo below is likely a female Melissa Blue, but given the elevation of the location (4300 feet) could possibly be a Northern Blue.

Melissa’s Blue/Northern Blue can be found in the Southern Interior in summer. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves (lupines are preferred) in late summer. There may be two or three hatches from late spring to summer. The caterpillars feed on lupines. Ants tend the caterpillars, feeding on the sugary secretions (similar to aphids)

Adults feed on the nectar of flowers, but also may harvest honeydew from aphids or secretions from bird and animal droppings. They finish their life cycle by laying eggs. The species overwinters in either the egg or pupal stage.

Lycaenidae are found world-wide, but are more numerous in the north temperate zones. A number of species have the iridescent blues, but cousins also can be yellow, orange, or red. All of them have 3 pairs of walking legs and almost all have the gossamer fringe.

When we hike the trails in summer, we watch for Melissa’s blue in the lupines. Getting them to stay still for a photo, is another matter….