Philotes sonorensis

For other uses of Philotes, see Philotes (disambiguation).

Philotes sonorensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Philotes
Scudder, 1876
Species:
P. sonorensis
Binomial name
Philotes sonorensis
(C. & R. Felder, [1865])[1]
Synonyms
  • Lycaena sonorensis C. & R. Felder, [1865]
  • Lycaena regia Boisduval, 1869
  • Philotes sonorensis ab. sonoralba Watson & Comstock, 1920
  • Philotes sonorensis f. comstocki Gunder, 1925

Philotes is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. Philotes is a monotypic genus containing only Philotes sonorensis, the Sonoran blue or stonecrop blue, found in North America in California and Baja California.[2] The habitat consists of rocky washes, outcrops and cliffs in deserts.[3]

The wingspan is 22–25 mm.[2]

The larvae feed on Dudleya species, including D. cymosa, D. lanceolata and D. saxosa. They bore into the leaves of their host plant. Chrysalids hibernate under stones.[3]

  1. ^ Philotes at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera
  2. ^ a b Butterflies and Moths of North America
  3. ^ a b "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org.