buckwheat blues (Euphilotes spp.)

In western Montana, several species of Euphilotes occur and are extremely difficult if not impossible to distinguish in the field. The most likely are Ancilla Blue (Euphilotes ancilla) and Glaucon Blue (Euphilotes glaucon). Ancilla Blue is part of the Dotted Blue complex, and Glaucon Blue belongs to the Square-spotted Blue complex.

Probably Ancilla Blue or Glaucon Blue
Below Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
4 June 2014

Probably Ancilla Blue or Glaucon Blue
Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
30 June 2014

Probably Ancilla Blue or Glaucon Blue
Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
30 June 2014

	One (or two?) of the buckwheat blue species (Euphilotes sp.) Just below Mt. Baldy, ca. 5400' elevation, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014 On the right is a mated pair. The left individual is an attempting (unsuccessfully) interloper, which was much smaller than either of the mated pair. These are on Sulphur Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum).
	One (or two?) of the buckwheat blue species (Euphilotes sp.) Just below Mt. Baldy, ca. 5400' elevation, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014
	One (or two?) of the buckwheat blue species (Euphilotes sp.) Just below Mt. Baldy, ca. 5400' elevation, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014
	Probably Ancilla Blue or Glaucon Blue Just below Mt. Baldy, ca. 5400' elevation, Missoula Co., MT 2 July 2014

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Created on ... June 29, 2014 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com