Callophrys henrici
Encyclopedia
Henry's Elfin is a North America
n butterfly
in the family Lycaenidae
. In Canada it is found from southern Manitoba
to southern Nova Scotia
. It has two main groups of populations in the USA: the first is found along the Atlantic Coast and uses various hollies (Ilex) as host plants; and the second is found mainly in the north and the Appalachians where they use Redbud (Cercis canadensis) as a host plant. Henry's Elfin is increasing in New England because of an introduced buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica
) it now uses as a host plant.
. Henry's Elfin's wingspan measures 20 to 25 mm (0.78740157480315 to 0.984251968503937 in)
), the Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus
), and the Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios).
The Frosted Elfin is slightly larger, males have a stigma, the underside of the hind wing has more frosting, and there is usually a dark spot near the hind wing outer margin.
The Brown Elfin is more reddish-brown, males have a stigma, it lacks hind wing tails, and the underside of the hind wing has no frosting.
The Hoary Elfin is smaller, males have a stigma, it lacks hindwing tails, the underside of the hind wing outer margin is completely frosted, and the fore wing outer margin is also frosted.
singly on the host plant flower buds or on host plant leaves near the buds. The eggs are pale green but turn a whitish color before hatching. The larva
is quite variable. It varies from greenish-yellow to red-brown to maroon. It has subdorsal spots that may be white, yellow, green, or red-green and has a lateral stripe which may be yellow or a reddish color. Some individuals have a faint yellow or reddish middorsal stripe. The pupa
is orange-brown and is mottled with a dark brown-black color. The pupa hibernates in leaf litter. Henry's Elfin has 1 brood
per year.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the family Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
. In Canada it is found from southern Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
to southern Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. It has two main groups of populations in the USA: the first is found along the Atlantic Coast and uses various hollies (Ilex) as host plants; and the second is found mainly in the north and the Appalachians where they use Redbud (Cercis canadensis) as a host plant. Henry's Elfin is increasing in New England because of an introduced buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica
Rhamnus cathartica
Rhamnus cathartica , is a species in the family Rhamnaceae, native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia, from the central British Isles south to Morocco, and east to Kyrgyzstan...
) it now uses as a host plant.
Description
The upper side of the wings is a dark brown color. The underside of the wings is strongly two-toned with the basal area being dark brown-black. The hind wing postmedian line has white at both ends. The outer edge of the hind wing is frosted and the outer edge of the fore wing is sometimes green-toned. The hind wing has tails that are short and stubby. In the south east, these tails are longer. The male lacks a stigmaStigma (anatomy)
A stigma in mammalian reproductive anatomy refers to the area of the ovarian surface where the Graafian follicle will burst through during ovulation and release the ovum....
. Henry's Elfin's wingspan measures 20 to 25 mm (0.78740157480315 to 0.984251968503937 in)
Similar species
Similar species in Henry's Elfin's range include the Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irusCallophrys irus
The Frosted Elfin is a species of Lycaenidae that is native to North America.-Description:The wingspan ranges from , hindwings have one short tail. The top side of the wing is brown, males have long oval dark spots on the leading edge of their forewings...
), the Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus
Callophrys augustinus
The Brown Elfin is butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in from Newfoundland north and west through the northern United States and the prairie provinces to Alaska. To the south it ranges in Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia and northern The Brown Elfin is [[butterfly]] of the...
), and the Hoary Elfin (Callophrys polios).
The Frosted Elfin is slightly larger, males have a stigma, the underside of the hind wing has more frosting, and there is usually a dark spot near the hind wing outer margin.
The Brown Elfin is more reddish-brown, males have a stigma, it lacks hind wing tails, and the underside of the hind wing has no frosting.
The Hoary Elfin is smaller, males have a stigma, it lacks hindwing tails, the underside of the hind wing outer margin is completely frosted, and the fore wing outer margin is also frosted.
Habitat
Henry's Elfin can be found in a wide range of habitats such as barrens, coastal holly forests, open woodlands, mesquite woodlands etc.Flight
This butterfly may be encountered from early May to early June in the north and March to April in the south.Life cycle
Males perch at about human eye level to await females.(Males will sometimes perch high in tree tops or will perch very low to the ground). Females lay their eggsEgg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
singly on the host plant flower buds or on host plant leaves near the buds. The eggs are pale green but turn a whitish color before hatching. The larva
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
is quite variable. It varies from greenish-yellow to red-brown to maroon. It has subdorsal spots that may be white, yellow, green, or red-green and has a lateral stripe which may be yellow or a reddish color. Some individuals have a faint yellow or reddish middorsal stripe. The pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
is orange-brown and is mottled with a dark brown-black color. The pupa hibernates in leaf litter. Henry's Elfin has 1 brood
Offspring
In biology, offspring is the product of reproduction, of a new organism produced by one or more parents.Collective offspring may be known as a brood or progeny in a more general way...
per year.
Host plants
Here is a list of host plants used by Henry's Elfin:- Texas Mescalbean, Calia secundiflora
- Redbud, Cercis canadensis
- Texas persimmon, Diospyros texanaDiospyros texanaDiospyros texana is a species of persimmon that is native to central and west Texas and southwest Oklahoma in the United States, and eastern Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. Common names include Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon and the more ambiguous "black...
- Black Huckleberry, Gaylussacia baccataGaylussacia baccataGaylussacia baccata, the Black Huckleberry, is a common huckleberry found throughout a wide area of northeastern North America. It closely resembles the blueberry plants with which it grows, but can be readily identified by the numerous resin dots on the undersides of the leaves which glitter when...
- Dahoon Holly, Ilex cassine
- American Holly, Ilex opaca
- Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria
- Texas Bluebonnet, Lupinus texensisLupinus texensisLupinus texensis is a species of lupine which is endemic to Texas. With other related species of lupines also called bluebonnets, it is the state flower of Texas....
- Wild Plum, Prunus americanaPrunus americanaPrunus americana, commonly called the American Plum, Wild Plum, or Marshall's Large Yellow Sweet Plum, is a species of Prunus native to North America from Saskatchewan to New Mexico east to New Hampshire and Florida. It has often been planted outside its core range and sometimes escapes cultivation...
- Pin Cherry, Prunus pensylvanica
- Black Cherry, Prunus serotina
- Northern Highbush Blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum
- Dryland Blueberry, Vaccinium pallidum
- Vaccinium vacillans
- Maple-leaf Viburnum, Viburnum acerifoliumViburnum acerifoliumViburnum acerifolium is a species of Viburnum, native to eastern North America from southwestern Quebec and Ontario south to northern Florida and eastern Texas....
- Black Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangulaRhamnus frangulaFrangula alnus, syn. Rhamnus frangula, the Alder Buckthorn, is a tall deciduous shrub in the family Rhamnaceae. It is native to Europe, northernmost Africa, and western Asia, from Ireland and Great Britain north to 68°N in Scandinavia, east to central Siberia and Xinjiang in western China, and...
, RhamnaceaeRhamnaceaeRhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions...
)