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Hops Azure (Celastrina humulus Scott and D. Wright)

Wing span: 13/16 - 1 1/16 inches (2.1 - 2.9 cm).

Identification: Upperside of male powdery blue. Female with extensive black and iridescent blue variably invaded by white scaling. Underside of hindwing mostly white with few black spots or none.

Life history: Caterpillars eat flowers.

Flight: One flight from mid-June to early July just after flight of Spring Azure .

Caterpillar hosts: Hopes (Humulus japonica) and lupine in one drainage.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Mountain foothill canyons and ravines from about 5800-6500', usually associated with patches of hops.

Range: Colorado Front Range from Larimer County south to El Paso County.

Conservation: Habitat may be threatened by the spread of alien weeds and resultant wildfires.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range