DID YOU KNOW? Some butterflies rely on a specific host plant to ensure their survival?
Some butterflies rely on a specific host plant to ensure their survival?
Frosted Elfin -Callophrys irus – There are two races of Frosted Elfin, one that feeds mainly on the flowers or seed pods of wild lupine (Lupinus perennis), and another that feeds on leaves and stems of wild indigo (Baptisia spp.), primarily the native Baptisia tinctoria
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The frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus) has been spotted on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, including in Edgartown and Manuel F. Correllus State Forest. It has a wingspan of about 1 inch and is known for its frosted white scaling on the hind wings and dark spots within the frosted area. Frosted elfin butterflies are most active in late May but can be seen as late as June. They are associated with wild indigo, their larval host plant, and prefer habitats with defined edges of pine woodland.





