Melissa Blue Plebejus melissa melissa Immatures Home  -  Butterflies  -  Details Adults      Male Eclosure    Female Eclosure     Specimen

Larva Development   #2 larva  at 2 days old - July 24, 2008 #3 larva molted to 3rd Instar on August 2nd.  Photo taken on August 5th, 2008 - Dorsal View #3 larva molted to 3rd Instar on August 2nd.  Photo taken on August 5th, 2008 - Lateral View #3  - 4th Instar on August 7, 2008, photo on August 8, 2008 #5 larva molted to 4th Instar on August 9th.  Photo taken on August 11th, 2008 - lateral #5 larva molted to 4th Instar on August 9th.  Photo taken on August 11th, 2008 - dorsal Pupae Development #3 Male Pupa -formed and photographed August 14, 2008 #3 Male Pupa - on August 22, 2008 - 1 day before butterfly eclosed #3 Male Pupa -  August 23rd, 1 hour 18 minutes before butterfly elosed #1 Female Pupa, 1 hour before eclosure PHOTO 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 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 Astragalus cicer