The Reakirt’s Blue butterfly resides in southern regions from Costa Rica to the southwestern United States For the males the upperside of the wings are blue; the females have dusky-brown wings with blue toward the body. The two hindwing spots are present but lack any orange pigment. The underside of the wings is whitish-gray with a distinctive row of black forewing spots rimmed with white. The black spots continue around the hindwingwing, with several small spots and one to three larger black spots. The hindwing spots lack the orange color seen in many blues and hairstreaks.

 

“Reakirt’s Blue” by Carla Kishinami, licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

Reakirt’s Blue Facts

Butterfly Family: Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Polyommatinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 3/4 – 1 1/8 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Grasslands, fields, desert, meadows, weedy areas, and creeksides

 

Reakirt’s Blue Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Various plants in the Fabaceae family
• Prairie Mimosa
• Purple Prairie Clovers
• Milk Vetch
• Alfalfa
• White Clover
• Yellow Sweet Clover
• White Sweet Clover
• Mimosa
• Indigo Bush

Nectar Plants:

• Nectar from various flowers and herbs
  • Spearmint
  • White Sweet Clover
  • Milk Vetch
  • Mimosa