Home › Volumes › Butterflies › Lycaeninae Family
Hoary Elfin
Butterfly.--Grayish-brown on the upper side. The wings on the under side are of the same color, paler on the outer margins, and darker toward the base. The species is subject to considerable variation. The variety arsace, Boisduval, has the hind wings marked with reddish near the anal angle, and the outer margin below marked with hoary-purple. The usual small crescentic spots appear on the outer margin of the hind wings, or they may be absent. Expanse, 1.10 inch.
Early Stages.--An epitome of all that is known is to be found in "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on young plums just after the leaves of the blossom have dropped away.
The species is rather rare, but has been found from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the latitude of New England.