Silvery Blue Butterfly Habitat

Identification

• The silvery blue's wingspan ranges from 7/8 to 1 1/4 inches. The male's upper side is an iridescent, silvery blue with a narrow dark border; the female is duller in color. Both sexes have a gray underside featuring black spots outlined in white.

Habitat

• The silvery blue prefers habitat in open woodlands and fields, coastal dunes, prairies, meadows and roadsides. According to Butterflies of Canada, silvery blues are often seen feeding at flowers or resting on the ground in damp spots.

Range

• The silvery blue is found throughout much of the U.S. and Canada. It extends farther south in the west.

Food

• Adult silvery blues feed on many flowers, particularly the Asteraceae family. They always choose host plants in the legume family, including milkvetch, lupine, sweet clover and sweet pea.

Caterpillar

• The caterpillar's color, either white, purple or green, depends on its food. Ants often tend the silvery blue caterpillars, which exude a sweet honeydew, states the Talk About Wildlife website.