Arctic Blue 
Plebejus glandon rustica
Pupa Development

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LARVA DEVELOPMENT    FEMALE ECLOSURE     MALE ECLOSURE 

   ADULT FEMALE     ADULT MALE    
SPECIMEN

Pupa Development - Female #2
Pupa #2 - Female on 7 September 2009, dorsal
pupa on 7 September 09 - dorsal view
Pupa #2 - Female on 7 September 2009, lateral
7 September 2009, lateral

Pupa #2 - Female  on 14 September 2009, dorsal
14 September 2009, dorsal view showing dark eye

Pupa #2 - Female on 14 September 2009, lateral view shows darkened eye
14 September 2009, lateral view showing deveolpment of eye

Pupa #2 - Female at 8:50 P.M. 15 September 2009
dorsal view shows darkened pupa
wing case and body has darkened

Pupa #2 -Female  at 8:50 P.M. 15 September 2009
lateral view shows darkened pupa
wing case and body has darkened

Pupa #2 - Female at 6:29 A.M., 16 September 2009
dorsal view  with translucent look that indicates
 the pupa shell is separating from the butterfly.
Butterfly emerged about 2 1/2 hours later.
pupa 6:29 A.M. 16 september


Pupa #2 -Female  at 6:31 A.M. 16 September 2009
lateral view  with translucent look that indicates
 the pupa shell is separating from the butterfly.
Butterfly emerged about 2 1/2 hours later.
Pupa becoming translucent
Pupa Development - Male #1
2:52 P.M., 17 September, about 1 hour
15 minutes before the butterfly emerged
1 1/4 hours before adult emerged
10:27 A.M., 17 September, about 1 hour
15 minutes before the butterfly emerged
male pupa about 1 1/4 hours before emerging




PHOTO AND OTHER DETAILS - ©Nicky Davis
On 3 August 2008 a female was located on Murdock Mountain, Uinta Mountains,  Summit County, Utah. GPS North 40.43.44.54, West 110.54.06.25 West
Elevation 10, 298 feet.

Jack Harry, Les Davis and I  followed the rustica around the mountain to determine the plant she was using to lay her eggs. We finally watched her oviposit on a tiny primrose, Androsace septentrionalis.

On 9 August 2008, this one egg hatched and was set on  a leaf of Shooting Star Dodecatheon alpinum.  During the night this larva went to the base of the plant and due to the curve of the stem, was able to get into water and died.

On 1 August 2009 two females were collected  at Murdock Mountain, Uinta Mountains, Summit County, Utah.


Females  laid eggs 2nd-5th of August on the chiffon material placed under the  top of a screened cage.  The cage used held a potted Shooting Star, Dodecatheon alpinum plant and a container with a cotton ball soaked in honey water made with a ratio of 1 part honey to 10 parts water as a nectar source for the butterflies.  The screen cage was placed outside in the sun for periods of 30 to 45 minutes then brought into the house.  Each time they were brought inside they began spinning in circles, then laid eggs on the chiffon cover.   The eggs hatched on the 9th and 10th of August.   They were kept in light 24x7 on cuttings of Dodecatheon alpinum, sometimes in a bouquets and sometimes in a 1 1/2 ounce plastic solo cup with lid on and a damp piece of brown paper toweling on the floorof the cup.   After feeding for 31 days, the first larva walked off the plant and refused to eat as it was ready to pupate.  They preferred pupating between two layers of brown recycled paper toweling that was in the bottom of their container.

Some eggs were sent to  John Emmel who reared them using Androsace sempervivoides.  All those larvae hibernated as second instars.

PUPAE
Photos of Female Pupa #2 developing
Photos of Male Pupa  #1 1 1/4 hours before the adult male eclosed

HOST PLANTS
Androsace sempervivoides, Pygmyflower Rock Jasmine-Androsace septentrionalis, Shooting Star- Dodecatheon alpinum
For available photos of host plants , click on
Androsace sempervivoides    
Androsace septentrionalis     
Dodecatheon alpinum


HABITAT
For photos of the habitat,  click on
Murdock Mountain

TIME SPENT AS:
Ova:  5 to 7 days
Larvae:  extremely variable -the first one fed for 27 days and the last one fed 51 days.  John Emmel brood hibernated as 2nd instar.
Pupae: 9 to 10 days
Adults:  unknown

BROOD OR FLIGHT:
One flight each year 
per  James A. Scott "The Butterflies of North America".  These females were found on the wing the first of August in 2008 and 2009.

HIBERNATION:
Overwinter as half grown larva or pupa per  James A. Scott "The Butterflies of North America"


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