| Plebejus melissa melissa (W. H. Edwards, 1872) |
| Status: Uncommon to common local resident |
| Flight Period(s): At least two broods. In Nebraska it has been found from 9 May – 15 October. |
| Range: From central Alberta and Manitoba the species ranges south through most of California, Arizona and New Mexico. The species also occurs from the Minnesota east to New York as the Karner blue, subspecies samuelis. |
| Larval Hostplant(s): Various Astragalus and Lupinus species, wild licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota, alfalfa Medicago sativa and white locoweed Oxytropis sericea. |
| Overwinter: As an egg |
| Commentary/Habitat: An eastern subspecies, the Karner blue (L. melissasamuelis) is found from southeastern Minnesota east to New York in scattered colonies in association with its only known larval hostplant Lupinusperennis. It has been extirpated from much of its range, and is considered endangered where it remains. Larvae of the nominate western subspecies (found in Nebraska) feed on a much wider variety of plants including alfalfa where it can sometimes be found in large numbers. This butterfly is much more common in the western portions of the state. Adults are sexually dimorphic and have been observed at mud (males), and nectaring on chokecherry, alfalfa, asters and verbena. |
| Similar Species: Most likely to be confused with the more uncommon acmon blue. Ventrally, in the acmon blue only the hind wing border is orange, while in the melissa blue both the fore and hind wing margins are orange bordered. Dorsally the male melissa blue has no orange margins, while the hind wing is bordered in orange on the acmon blue. Dorsally, on female melissa blues both wing margins are orange, while acmon blue females have only the hind wing margins orange. |
