Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon)

Flies in a variety of habitats and altitudes in western North America. Separating this species from Lupine Blue is very difficult and more research is necessary and underway. There are likely unrecognized species within the currently designated Acmon/Lupine complex. See below for more information. Current field guides show incorrect range maps; Lupine Blue is the widespread taxon, while Acmon is primarily limited to California, Oregon, and Washington.
Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus) Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus)
Female
Chews Ridge, Monterey Co., CA
9 July 2007
Female
Chews Ridge, Monterey Co., CA
9 July 2007


Here is what Paul Opler has to say about the identification of the images below: "They all belong to what has been called Plebejus lupini (not lupinus) in recent checklists, but none clearly belongs to that species. I am familiar with the populations at Saddlebag Lake and the east side of the Sierra. I think these are two different species, and only the ones from Eagle Canyon might be tied in with lupini at the species level. For now they are best referred to a members of the polygonoid-obligate group of the acmon complex -- quite a mouthfull, but using Plebejus lupini is not accurate and is mis-leading."
Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus) Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus)
Male
Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA
17 July 2007
Action shot!
Saddlebag Lake, Mono Co., CA
17 July 2007

Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus)
Eagle Meadows west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007

Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus) Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupinus)
Just west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007
Just west of Sonora Pass, Tuolumne Co., CA
11 July 2007


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Created on ... Aug 1, 2007 | Updated on ... Sep 20, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com