Hemiargus isola – Reakirt’s Blue

Caterpillar foods:  many legumes (BAMONA)

This species is an infrequent stray to Wisconsin.  Mike Reese says that when they stray this far north, they may lay eggs and start a small colony, but then not survive the winter.  I’ve only found this butterfly twice here at the farm.

I found this female resting on small plants at the edge of our driveway, near the garage.  Later I think she was laying eggs on a Leadplant next to the cliff.

7/8/2012

 

7/8/2012

 

7/8/2012

 

7/8/2012

 

7/9/2012  The same butterfly, the following day

 

7/11/2019  The only other sighting I’ve had here – photo taken with a cell phone from far away while the butterfly was moving quickly through the wetland.