Facts on the Western Pygmy Blue Butterfly

Butterflies are popular because of their beautiful vibrant colors and their graceful flights. There are many different species of butterfly to explore and learn about. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. One of the smallest butterfly species in the world is the western pygmy blue butterfly, also known as Brephidium exilis.

You can identify the pygmy blue by its size and color. The western pygmy blue butterfly is North America's smallest butterfly. It is tiny, with a wingspan measuring just five to seven millimeters. It has a light blue body with wings that are blue at the base and bordered in blue as well. The ends of the wings are brownish-orange in color. The female of the species may have a duller color, with more brown on the wings. Like all butterflies, this species is an insect with six legs and two wings. This butterfly was once thought to be the smallest in the world, until a smaller species was recently discovered, called the Barber's Blue, which is native to South Africa.

Pygmy blue butterflies prefer salty warm areas, like deserts, wastelands and salt marshes. They are common to the western regions of the United States, like areas of California and Arizona. They are also found in parts of Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. They have been found as far south as Mexico and Venezuela. Pygmy blue butterflies tend to migrate to northern regions like Oregon, Arkansas and Nebraska. The population of pygmy blues has actually grown since their habitats have become populated by humans. Their populations are strong and no kind of conservation efforts are needed at the time.

Like all butterflies, pygmy blues start out as caterpillars. The adult female butterfly will lay eggs on a host plant, usually on the tops of leaves. These tiny eggs are bluish-green in color. The larvae turn into small light green or white caterpillars. When they become caterpillars, they will feed on this host plant. The caterpillar builds a chrysalid and hibernates until they have been transformed into a butterfly. The butterfly will then emerge.

Sometimes it is difficult to even notice this tiny butterfly because of its size and behavior. It typically flies low to the ground and seems to fly slowly. They often occur in largely populated groups. When the pygmy blue butterfly is ready to lay its eggs during the summer, it flies north.

The western pygmy blue butterfly feeds strictly on flower nectar. The primary host plants for this butterfly come from the goosefoot family of plants, such as lamb's quarters, pigweed and saltbush. When the insect is in the caterpillar stage, it feeds on the leaves of these plants. However, when it has become a butterfly it only eats the nectar of the flowers.