Photo Details - Characteristics & Utah Range Map
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MATING PAIR MALE FEMALE FEMALE EMERGENCE LARVA PUPA
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#3 Male emerging from pupa
#3 Male emerging from pupa
#3 Male emerging from pupa
#3 Male inflating wings
#3 Male inflating wings
#3 Male inflating wings
#3 Male inflating wings
#3 Male inflating wings
#3 Male inflating wings
#3 Male drying wings
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Details ©Nicky Davis Photos of an Adult Male emerging from #3 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 Pupae The pupae took about 7 days to develop before the adult butterflies hatched. 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. Ova hatched after 4 or 5 days. Host Plant To see photos of the host plant these melissa used, please click on Astragalus cicer Back to Top |