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Intermediate Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes intermedia [Barnes and McDunnough])

Wing span: 3/4 inches (1.9 - 2.0 cm).

Identification: Male blue with orange hindwing aurora restricted to outer corner. Female brown with orange aurora band. Underside with weak black line at margins of wings. Orange band at outer margin of hindwing often broken into separate element

Life history: Males patrol all day near host plants to find receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on host plant flowers; caterpillars eat flowers and fruits, and are protected by ants. Chrysalids hibernate in sand or leaf litter.

Flight: One flight; late June to mid-August.

Caterpillar hosts: Sulphur-flower and Lobb's Buckwheat.

Adult food: Flower nectar especially that from Eriogonum species.

Habitat: Rocky slopes and flats.

Range: Western Oregon south to northern California. Isolated population in northern Arizona.