Northern Blue (Plebejus idas)

Found from Colorado and California north to Alaska and widespread in Canada from coast to coast. Often difficult to impossible to distinguish in the field from Anna's Blue and Melissa Blue. Several described subspecies occur.

'Crowberry' Blue (Plebejus idas empetri)
Washington Co., ME
5 July 2011

This very bright and colorful subspecies of Northern Blue feeds on Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and is found in bogs and heaths in Maine & nearby Canadian provinces.


'Crowberry' Blue (Plebejus idas empetri) Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011	'Crowberry' Blue (Plebejus idas empetri) Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011


'Crowberry' Blue (Plebejus idas empetri) Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011	'Crowberry' Blue (Plebejus idas empetri) Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011


'Crowberry' Blue (Plebejus idas empetri) Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011	Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), caterpillar foodplant Washington Co., ME 5 July 2011



Northern Blue (Plebejus idas) Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT 18 June 2005	Northern Blue (Plebejus idas) Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT 18 June 2005


Northern Blue (Plebejus idas) Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT 18 June 2005	Northern Blue (Plebejus idas) Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT 18 June 2005

Northern Blue (Plebejus idas)
Big Springs Hollow, Utah Co., UT 18
June 2005

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Created on ... May 5, 2007 | Updated ... May 5, 2007 | jspippen@duke.edu