About Icaricia icarioides (Boisduval, 1852)
Icaricia icarioides (first described by Boisduval in 1852), commonly known as Boisduval's blue, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae, native to North America. 25 subspecies of this butterfly are currently recognized. Its range spans much of western United States and western Canada, reaching from southern Saskatchewan in the east to British Columbia in the west. This species occupies a variety of habitats, including dunes, mountains, meadows, streamsides, and sagelands. It can also be found in open areas, or in woodland clearings located near its larval host plant. The species' larvae feed on various species of lupines (Lupinus). Adult Boisduval's blues feed on floral nectar produced by Eriogonum species and other composite flowering plants. The wingspan of this butterfly ranges from 21 mm to 32 mm.
