| Melissa
Blue Plebejus melissa melissa Female Eclosure |
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| Immatures Adults Male Eclosure Specimen |
| Female #1 just after she emerged from pupa and climbed onto this stick to inflate wings |
| Female #1 inflating wings |
| Female #1 inflating wings |
| Female #1 inflating wings |
| Female #1 inflating wings |
| Female #1 inflating wings |
| Female #1 inflating wings |
| PHOTO DETAILS -
©Nicky Davis Photos of an Adult Female eclose from #1 pupa After trying for 2 or 3 years to rear some Plebejus melissa melissa from Butterfield Canyon, we finally did it. Previously we tried to have a female oviposit on Lathyrus, Hedysarum and Medicago sativa. Then on July 19, 2008, while up Butterfield Canyon, my husband noticed a female trying to oviposit on some Astragalus cicer which is there in abundance. That was the missing ingredient. We brought the female home and she oviposited on the cicer. Butterfield Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah Lat 40°29' 73" N Long 111°57'26" W. Elevation 4470 feet Life History Ova- Oviposited 7-20 to 7-24- 2008 (5 days as ova) Larvae: First instar emerged 7-24 to 7-28-2008 (5 days as first instar) Molted to Second instar 7-27 to 8-01-2008 (3 days as second instar) Molted to Third Instar 7-30 to 8-04-2008 (5 days as third instar) Molted to Fourth Instar 8-04 to 8-09-2008 (7 days as fourth instar) Prepupa 8-11 to 8-16-2008 ( 3 days as prepupa) Pupae: 9 days as pupae Host Plant used by larvae
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