The Silvery Blue is a small butterfly found across much of the northern United States and southern Canada. Males have shimmering silvery-blue upper wings, while females are more grayish-blue with broader dark margins. The underside of both sexes is pale gray with distinct rows of small black spots rimmed in white. Unlike some other blues, the Silvery Blue lacks any orange markings on the wings.

 

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Silvery Blue Facts

Butterfly Family: Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Polyommatinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 7/8 – 1 1/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: A variety of locations including open woods, coastal dunes, prairies, meadows, road edges, rocky moist woods, and brushy fields

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Astragalus (Astragalus spp.)

• Lathyrus (Lathyrus spp.)

• Lotus (Lotus spp.)

• Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

• Milk Vetch (Astragalus spp.)

• Oxytropis (Oxytropis spp.)

• Veiny Pea (Lathyrus venosus)

• Vetch (Vicia spp.)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Silvery Blue butterflies feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Baptisia (Baptisia spp.)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.)

• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)