Bug FAQHoary Elfin
Callophrys polios · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Lycaenidae
The hoary elfin butterfly has a wingspan of about 22 to 29 mm. Its larvae feed on bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and possibly on trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens). Adults drink nectar from flowers such as leatherleaf, pyxie, wild strawberry and willow.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The hoary elfin is a butterfly in the Lycaenidae family.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from 22 to 29 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The caterpillars feed on bearberry and possibly on trailing arbutus.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae eat the leaves of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and may also use Epigaea repens. Adult butterflies sip nectar from a variety of flowers, including leatherleaf, pyxie, wild strawberry and willow.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from April to June, producing one generation each year. The species overwinters as a chrysalis.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from April through June.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Alaska, Michigan, Colorado, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, Montana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do hoary elfin caterpillars eat?
They feed on bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and possibly on trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens).
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see adult hoary elfins?
Adults are on the wing from April to June, with one generation per year.
Source: Wikipedia
What flowers do adult hoary elfins visit?
They sip nectar from flowers such as leatherleaf, pyxie, wild strawberry and willow.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Lycaenidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callophrys_polios
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.