Reakirt's Blue

Class: Hexapoda (animals with six legs - includes all insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
    lepido = scale and ptera = wings
    The wings are covered with small scales.
Family: Lycaenidae (harvesters, coppers, hairstreaks and blues)
Subfamily: Polyommatinae (blues)
Species: Hemiargus isola
Common Name: Reakirt's Blue
Date: 2001 July 02
Place: Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    Devil's Hall Trail

Blues are small butterflies. In general, the wings of the males, when seen from above are mainly blue or bluish. The undersides, the parts most often seen, are greyish with some pattern of spots and perhaps an orange band. Reakirt's Blue and the Marine Blue were the commonest blues I found during the summer. Marine Blues lack distinct spots on the undersides of their front wings.

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Note: This is a personal web site and is not affiliated with the National Park Service or Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Contact information for the author, Ron Lyons, is accessible through the Index Page referenced below. Thank you.