page_title: List of butterflies of North America (Lycaenidae)
section_title: Subfamily Polyommatinae: blues
hierarchical_section_title: List of butterflies of North America (Lycaenidae) / Subfamily Polyommatinae: blues
caption_attribution_description: English: Western Pygmy Blue
context_page_description: Gossamer-wings are the smallest butterflies. Their wingspans range from 0.5-2.0 inches. There are about 7,000 species worldwide with about 139 species in North America. Gossamer-wings include the subfamilies hairstreaks, harvesters, coppers, and blues. Their flights vary from the fast, erratic hairstreaks to the slow, bouncy blues. They like to feed at flowers, and males like to puddle at damp ground. Most male gossamer-wings locate females by perching, while some males patrol. The turban-shaped eggs are usually laid singly. The larva is oval shaped with a flattened underside. Some species have honeydew glands that attract ants. Ants like to eat and collect the honeydew made by the caterpillar. In turn, the ants will swarm over anything that might try to harm the larva. The chrysalis is usually formed in leaf litter. Many chrysalises can make faint noises. Scientists believe this noise might ward off predatory ants.
context_section_description: Western pygmy blue, Brephidium exilis
  Eastern pygmy blue, Brephidium isophthalma
  Cassius blue, Leptotes cassius
  Marine blue, Leptotes marina
  Pea blue, Lampides boeticus
  Cyna blue, Zizula cyna
  Lesser grass-blue, Zizina otis
  Miami blue, Cyclargus thomasi
  Nickerbean blue, Cyclargus ammon
  Ceraunus blue, Hemiargus ceraunus
  Reakirt's blue, Echinargus isola
  Eastern tailed-blue, Cupido comyntas
  Western tailed-blue, Cupido amyntula
  Spring azure, Celastrina ladon
  Summer azure, Celastrina neglecta
  Manitoba summer azure, Celastrina neglecta argentata
  Holly azure, Celastrina idella
  Hops azure, Celastrina humulus
  Cherry gall azure, Celastrina serotina
  Northern azure, Celastrina lucia
  Colorado northern azure, Celastrina lucia lumarco
  Echo azure, Celastrina echo
  Dark echo azure, Celastrina echo nigrescens
  Baker's echo azure, Celastrina echo bakeri
  Arizona echo azure, Celastrina echo cinerea
  Front Range echo azure, Celastrina echo sidara
  Mexican echo azure, Celastrina echo gozora
  Appalachian azure, Celastrina neglectamajor
  Dusky azure, Celastrina nigra
  Sonoran blue, Philotes sonorensis
  Square-spotted blue, Euphilotes battoides
  El Segundo square-spotted blue, Euphilotes battoides allyni
  Bernardino square-spotted blue, Euphilotes battoides bernardino
  Euphilotes battoides intermedia
  Bauer's square-spotted blue, Euphilotes battoides baueri
  Central square-spotted blue, Euphilotes battoides centralis
  Ellis's square-spotted blue, Euphilotes battoides ellisi
  Dotted blue, Euphilotes enoptes
  Mojave dotted blue, Euphilotes enoptes mojave
  Dammer's dotted blue, Euphilotes enoptes dammersi
  Ancilla dotted blue, Euphilotes enoptes ancilla
  Rita blue, Euphilotes rita
  Pale Rita blue, Euphilotes rita pallescens
  Spalding's blue, Euphilotes spaldingi
  Small blue, Philotiella speciosa
  Philotiella speciosa leona
  Arrowhead blue, Glaucopsyche piasus
  Silvery blue, Glaucopsyche lygdamus
  Northern blue, Plebejus idas
  Melissa blue, Plebejus melissa
  Karner Melissa blue, Plebejus melissa samuelis
  Greenish blue, Icaricia saepiolus
  Boisduval's blue, Icaricia icarioides
  Mission Boisduval's blue, Icaricia icarioides missionensis
  Shasta blue, Icaricia shasta
  Acmon blue, Icaricia acmon
  Lupine blue, Icaricia lupini
  Veined blue, Icaricia neurona
  San Emigdio blue, Plebulina emigdionis
  Cranberry blue, Agriades optilete
  Arctic blue, Agriades glandon
  Heather blue, Agriades cassiope
  Sierra Nevada blue, Agriades podarce
caption: Western pygmy blue, Brephidium exilis
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