Callophrys mossii

Callophrys mossii, the Moss's elfin, stonecrop elfin and Schryver's elfin), is a butterfly native to North America that belongs in the family Lycaenidae. It is found from British Columbia south to southern California and east to Wyoming and Colorado in isolated populations. The habitat consists of rocky outcrops, woody canyons and cliffs.[1]

Moss's elfin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Callophrys
Species:
C. mossii
Binomial name
Callophrys mossii
(H. Edwards, 1881)
Subspecies

Six, see text

Synonyms
  • Thecla irus var. mossii H. Edwards, 1881
  • Incisalia mossii
  • Incisalia polios schryveri Cross, 1937
  • Incisalia doudoroffi dos Passos, 1940
  • Incisalia doudoroffi windi Clench, 1943
  • Callophrys (Incisalia) fotis bayensis Brown, 1969

The wingspan is 22–28 mm. The upperside of the males is grayish brown with a tan patch on the hindwing inner margin. Females are light brown to tan with dark borders. The underside is coppery brown to purplish brown. The inner half of the hindwings is darker than the outer half. Adults are on wing from March to June in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on Sedum (including S. spathulifolium and S. lanceolatum), Sedella, Dudleya and Parvisedum species. Young larvae feed on the leaves of their host plant. When older, they feed on the flowers and fruits.

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically:[2]

  • C. m. bayensis (Brown, 1939) – San Bruno elfin (California)
  • C. m. doudoroffi dos Passos, 1940 (California)
  • C. m. hidakupa Emmel, Emmel & Mattoon, 1998 (California)
  • C. m. marinensis Emmel, Emmel & Mattoon, 1998 (California)
  • C. m. mossii (Vancouver Island)
  • C. m. schryveri (Cross, 1937) (Colorado)
  • C. m. windi (Clench, 1943) (California)
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References
  1. Butterflies and Moths of North America
  2. Incisalia at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
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