Eastern Tailed Blues are common butterflies at our farm in Wisconsin. I see them throughout the warm moths – from May until September.
Mating pair
The females lay their eggs on plants in the Pea Family – I almost always find caterpillars when I check out the flowers of Round-headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata). The caterpillars are flat and slow moving. They seem to prefer to eat flowers rather than leaves. They vary in color – from brown to bright green.
This one is much greener.
Chrysalis
Adult males are bright blue on the tops of their wings
Adult females’ upper wings are gray and slightly iridescent.
Marcie O’Connor
Buffalo County, Wisconsin