[vc_title_zane title="Silvery Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Glaucopsyche lygdamus. An uncommon Minnesota butterfly, I’ve seen this species at Frontenac State Park in Goodhue County in the prairies there. It’s more common in the northern part of the state. Larva feed on plants in the pea family.

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[vc_title_zane title="Eastern Tailed Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Cupido comyntas. A very common butterfly in Minnesota that is found in wilderness areas and city parks and backyards. I often see this species while walking the dogs in urban Minneapolis, but also in many of the state’s wilderness areas. It’s found throughout Minnesota. Larva feed on clovers and vetches, both native and introduced.

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[vc_title_zane title="Reakirt's Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Hemiargus isola, A summer migrant to Minnesota, this is not a common species. I’ve seen it at Grey Cloud Dunes in Washington County in September 2017. It was also sighted in Isanti County in July 2016. Larva feed on plants in the pea family.

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[vc_title_zane title="Summer Azure" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Celastrina neglecta. The Summer Azure is common across wooded areas of Minnesota, and can even be found in urban areas. I’ve seen this species in my south Minneapolis neighborhood every year for the past three years nectaring on boulevard plantings. Larva feed on dogwoods.

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[vc_title_zane title="Spring Azure" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Celastrina ladon. Similar to the Summer Azure and is common across wooded areas of Minnesota. It is darker than the Summer Azure and its flight ends when the summer species begins. Larva feed on dogwoods.

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[vc_title_zane title="Greenish Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Plebejus saepiolus. Relatively rare; more common in the northern half of Minnesota. Larva feeds on clover.


[vc_title_zane title="Melissa Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Plebejus melissa. The Melissa Blue is fairly common in the western half of the state, and the endangered subspecies Karner Blue is found in southeastern Minnesota. Melissa Blue larva feeds on a wide variety of plants in the pea family, while the Karner Blue only eats lupine.

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[vc_title_zane title="Western Tailed Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Cupido amyntula. Extremely similar to the Eastern Tailed Blue and found in northern Minnesota. Much of the literature suggests dissecting specimens to examine the genitals where the two species overlap. I’m not going to do that, and I would guess most people aren’t either. The Western species has minimal or lack of orange near the tail, and the black markings on the back of the wings are subdued.

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[vc_title_zane title="Northern Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Plebejus idas. Nabokov’s blue is listed as a species of special concern in Minnesota. It’s found in the far northern tier of counties. Larva feeds on dwarf bilberry which is also a species of special concern.


[vc_title_zane title="Strays" extra_class=""]
[vc_title_zane title="Marine Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Leptotes marina. A rare stray to Minnesota. The most recent sighting was 2009 in Blue Earth County.


[vc_title_zane title="Lupine Blue" heading="h3" extra_class=""]

Plebejus lupini. There are two records of the Lupine Blue in Minnesota, both prior to 2004 and at least one was in Winona County where the very similar Karner Blue (which feeds on lupine) has been found. Could it be a mistaken identity? Unknown.