Callophrys affinis affinis
Photo Life History: Callophrys affinis affinis
Habitat: Mountain Hilltops
Host Plants: Eriogonum heracleoides; Eriogonum racemosum; Eriogonum umbellatum; Eriogonum elatum
Suitable Lab Host Plants:
How to Find Female Butterflies: Females can be found flying near larval host plant.
How to Care for Live Female Butterflies: Click here.
Methods of Female Oviposition: Small Squat Tub Place females with host plant cuttings in a small squat tub (or other similar container) and expose females to intermittent light. Females of the genus Callophrys (and possibly other Theclinae) go inactive is exposed to constant light or constant shade. Alternating light; even artificial light seems to stimulate them to oviposit with better consistency.
How to Find Eggs: Look on the leaves of lower half of the plant. Look on the underside of leaves.
How to Hatch Eggs: Separate eggs individually.
How to Find Caterpillars in the Field: Look for Caterpillar Strip Patterns. Larvae will eat both leaves and inflorescens.
Caterpillar setups: Open terrariums; Twin Cup Method.
Larva to Pupa:
How to Find Pupae in the Field:
Number of Broods per Year: 1
Overwintering Stage: Pupa.
Overwintering Strategies: Your Own Backyard; Refrigerator
Post-Hibernation Strategies: Expose post-diapause pupae to increased temperature, long-day photoperiod , and higher humidity. Because pupae of Theclinae and other lycaenids partially develop imago characters in the pupal stage before diapause, adults can emerge rapidly in the late winter/early spring after being exposed to very slight increases in temperature. In other words, Callophrys and Incisalia pupae have been known to break diapause and emerge in the refrigerator in January and February!! (Sometimes they can fully expand their wings under these conditions and sometimes they can't.) Monitor pupae closely towards the back end of your cold treatment and make sure that they are exposed to room temperatures when they emerge.
Avoiding Diapause Techniques: None known.
Disease Prevention: Change out host plant and remove frass every four to five days in an open terrarium setup.
Emergence: Emergence Container
Field Notes:
