Bug FAQMelissa Blue
Lycaeides melissa · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Lycaenidae
The Melissa blue butterfly has a wingspan of about 22 to 35 millimetres. Its hindwing shows an orange band near the edge with occasional blue sparkle spots, and the margin line widens where veins meet. It lives across western North America from Canada down to Mexico and flies from spring through late summer, depending on location.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
A key field mark is the orange sub-marginal band on the hindwing, often tipped with iridescent blue points, which sets it apart from the duller Plebejus idas. The outer edge line of the wing is broader at each vein intersection.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure 22 to 35 mm across the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found throughout western North America, from Canada to Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Caterpillars feed on species of lupine, medick and lotus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing from April through August, varying with locality.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Flight period runs from April to August depending on where they live.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range spans western North America, ranging from Canada southward to Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with the similar Plebejus idas.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Colorado, California, Utah, Idaho, South Dakota, Washington, Arizona, Nebraska.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell a Melissa blue apart from similar butterflies?
Look for the orange band near the edge of the hindwing with occasional blue sparkle spots and a wider margin line at the veins.
Source: Wikipedia
When are Melissa blues active?
They fly from April to August, though exact timing depends on the region.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is this butterfly found?
It lives across western North America, from Canada down to Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Lycaenidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_blue
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.