North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Resident across northern and western North America, with isolated populations in the central/southern/eastern US (Scott 1986). Habitats are coastal dunes, moist prairie, open woodland from northern lower austral zone to the edge of the arctic/alpine tundra. Host plants are usually herbaceous or shrubs and include many species, but mostly in one family, Leguminosae. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. Larvae are tended by ants. Individuals overwinter as pupae. There are is one flight each year with the approximate flight times MAR15-MAY15 in N. Calif.; MAY15-JULY15 further north and in high altitudes; Feb1-Apr30 in S. Calif. and Mar30-Apr30 in GA (Scott 1986).
