| Euphilotes rita coloradensis (Mattoni), [1966] |
| Status: Rare resident, although it is probably under-reported due to its late flight date and habitat preferences. |
| Flight Period(s): One flight in mid-late summer. Nebraska records are from mid August. |
| Range: Various subspecies inhabit portions of the American West from eastern California to southern Wyoming, and south through Arizona and New Mexico. Subspecies coloradensis is found in Colorado, Wyoming and the southern portion of the Nebraska panhandle. |
| Larval Hostplant(s): Buckwheats - Yellow Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum flavum) and E. effusum |
| Overwinter: As pupae |
| Commentary/Habitat: This butterfly has been taken in Nebraska on only two occasions, both on roadsides. It is almost certainly more widespread than records indicate as it flies later than most species and in habitats not often sampled by collectors. The Rita Blue occupies prairies and prairie ravines in association with the hostplants. |
| Similar Species: Dotted and Melissa Blues. In Nebraska the Rita Blue is separated by time from the Dotted Blue, which has been found only in early summer. It is considerably smaller than Melissa Blues. |
