Photo Details - Characteristics & Utah Range Map
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MALE FEMALE MATING PAIR MALE EMERGENCE FEMALE EMERGENCE PUPA SPECIMEN
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Larva Development
#1 larva at 2 days old
#3 larva molted to 3rd Instar on August 2nd. Photo taken on August 5th - Lateral View
#3 larva molted to 3rd Instar on August 2nd. Photo taken on August 5th, 2008 - Dorsal View
#5 larva molted to 4rd Instar on August 9th. Photo taken on August 11th, 2008 - lateral
#5 larva molted to 4rd Instar on August 9th. Photo taken on August 11th, 2008 - dorsal
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Details - ©Nicky Davis 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. Elev. 4470 Ova The ova was inside the flowers and buds and I was not able to get a decent photo. The female oviposited on July 20, 22, and 23, 2008. They hatched after 4 or 5 days. Larvae The larvae fed from 17 to 20 days before walking off the plant to putate which took another 3 days. They were kept on separate "bouquets" of cicer to avoid cannibalism. The larvae fed with no problem on the leaves of the cicer. 1st instar #1 was oviposited July 20th and hatched July 24th. Photo taken on July 26th. #5 larva was oviposited July 23rd, hatched July 28th, 2nd instar August 1st, 3rd instar August 5th, 4th instar August 9th. Lateral and dorsal photo taken August 11, 2008 Pupae The pupae took about 7 days to develop before the adult butterflies hatched. #3 pupa, a male is shown. Host Plant For photos of the plant used by these melissa, please click on Astragalus cicer Back to Top |