About Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852)
This species is Brephidium exilis (Boisduval, 1852). On the upperside of its wings, the color is copper brown, with dull blue marking at the bases of both wings. The underside of the hindwing is copper brown, with white coloring at the base. The wing fringe is mostly white, with 3 small black spots near the base and a row of black spots along the outer margin. The wingspan of this butterfly measures 12–20 mm. This species occurs in alkaline habitats, including deserts, salt marshes, and barren areas. It is common throughout its natural range, which covers the Southwestern United States from California east to western Texas, and extends from Mexico south to Venezuela. It may also migrate to Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oregon. Its introduced range includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and eastern Saudi Arabia along the Persian Gulf coast as far as Kuwait. It most recently colonized the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
