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Silvery blue butterfly

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Glaucopsyche lygdamus

DESCRIPTION

Adult wingspan approximately 2–3 cm. Adults (butterflies) have a light blue upperside with a thin, light grey border and a dark grey border within that. The dark grey border in the female is wider and fades into a pale blue to varying degrees. Their underside is grey with one row of black white-rimmed spots on both the forewing and hind wing.

RANGE

All provinces and territories except Nunavut.

HABITAT

Open woodlands and forest clearings, flowery meadows, moist prairies, roadsides, shrubby areas, coastal dunes.

DIET

Adults (butterflies) drink flower nectar from plants with open or deep flowers, including those in the Asteraceae (composites) family, often low-growing plants. Young (larvae/caterpillars) eat young flowers and leaves of host plants including vetches, alfalfa, white sweet clover and lupines.

BEHAVIOUR

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PRIMARY ECOSYSTEM ROLES

  • Pollinator (Their pollination services come into play as pollen gets on their legs and body when they land and drink, helping the transfer of pollen from flower to flower.)