Western Pine Elfin- Callophrys eryphon eryphon - Ova, Larvae and Pupae Home  -   Butterflies  -  Swallowtails    -   Whites and Sulphurs  -   Coppers, Hairstreaks, Blues & Metalmarks   -    Brushfoots    -   Skippers Photo & Other  Details       Characteristics & Utah Range Map Scroll down for all photos of IMMATURES. For other photos and information, click on your choice of PUPAE     ADULTS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OVA Oviposited on 9th and 12th of June 2009 LARVAE #2 First instar on 15 June 2009 - Photo taken on the same day #3 Molted to second instar  20 June 2009 - Photo on 23 June 2009 #1 set to molt to third instar on 23, June 2009 # 2 Dorsal View - Molted to third instar on 24 June 2009, Photo on 26 June 2009 # 2 Lateral View - Molted to third instar on 24 June 2009, Photo on 26 June 2009 # 3  Fourth Instar - Lateral View - 1 July 2009 # 3  Fourth Instar - Dorsal View - 1 July 2009 # 3  Fourth Instar - showing the brown  mark on the cervical shield and three pine needles that have been completely consumed - 1 July 2009 # 1 Dorsal View - Molted to fourth instar on 29 June 2009, Photo taken on 30 June 2009 # 1 close-up of the mark on the cervical shield and the orange hairs - 1 July 2009 Caterpillar is now eating the whole tip of the needles rather than burrowing inside. Notice the one pine needle at the bottom is completely eaten. #1 Larva changed color,  walked off plant and stopped eating to prepare for pupation 10 A.M. 4 July 2009 #1 Larva changed to pink stripes on a gray-green color.  Photo taken at 6:15 P.M. 4 July 2009 I set him back on the plant he but he continued changing color and still did not eat. The hole in the twig and  frass debris made by a young larva #1 Pre-pupa 7 July 2009 #1 Pupa 8 July 2009 - Pupated  then hibernated PHOTO DETAILS - ©Nicky Davis Jack Harry located 2 female Pine Elfins on June 9, 2009 LOCATION: Black Rock Canyon, Tooele County, Utah GPS 40.01.5706 N, 112.11.5613 W, Elevation 6497 feet Females  laid 4 eggs 9 June, 10 eggs 12 June, 2009.  They stopped laying after 9 June so on 12 June we cut fresh Pinyon Pine boughs, put a small sprig in a bouquet in a medicine bottle and used  a plastic container with some chiffon under the plastic lid.  I  used a small lid with a little piece of honey-soaked sponge in it  for the females to nectar on as needed.  I set the container holding the females in the sun on grass in the afternoon  for 1/2 hour, then in the house in the dark 1/2 hour, back out in the sun again and so on.  I also spritzed the pine bough just a bit for added hydration.  The females liked this arrangement and laid 10 eggs.  They only laid on the unopened  pine needle tips that were cut the same morning. I wanted to have  new, fresh pine boughs when the larvae hatched so I popped the eggs off the pine to store them which resulted in half the eggs not hatching.  At least I believe that's why they all didn't hatch. OVA PHOTOS 2 photos showing the eggs oviposited on the unopened needles at the tips of the boughs. LARVA PHOTOS #2 First instar on 15 June 2009 #3 Second instar on  20 June 2009 #1 Set to molt to third instar 23 June 2009 # 2 Dorsal View - Molted to third instar on 24 June 2009, Photo taken on 26 June 2009 # 2 Lateral View - Molted to third instar on 24 June 2009, Photo taken on 26 June 2009 # 3  Fourth Instar - Lateral View - 1 July 2009 # 3  Fourth Instar - Dorsal View - 1 July 2009 # 3  Fourth Instar - showing the brown  mark on the back of head   and shows the eating pattern in the three pine needles that have been completely      consumed - 1 July 2009 # 1 Dorsal View - Molted to fourth instar on 29 June 2009, Photo taken on 30 June 2009 # 1 close-up of the mark on the back of the head and the orange hairs - 1 July 2009   Caterpillar is now eating the whole tip of the needles rather than burrowing inside.   Notice the one pine needle at the bottom is completely eaten. #1 Larva changed color,  walked off plant and stopped eating to prepare for pupation   10 A.M. 4 July 2009 #1 Larva changed color to pink stripes on a gray-green background.  Photo taken at   6:15 P.M. 4 July  2009.  I set him back on the plant  but he continued changing color and   still did not eat. #1 Pre-pupa 9:54 A.M. 7 July 2009 #1 Pupa formed 8 July 2009 - Pupated  then hibernated.  After 45 days the pupae were put in a chiffon hammock and suspended  in a container with some water in the bottom to keep them hydrated.  They were then put in the fridge at about 40 degrees.  On  October 30, 2009 they will be transferred to a small fridge with the temperature at about 30 to 35 degrees F.  The goal is to keep them hydrated and at the  temperatures they encounter in the wild under snow. ADULT HOST PLANT The adult Pine Elfin butterflies often use  the Ceanothus martini, Martin's Ceanothus  blossoms as a nectar source in Black Rock Canyon.  For photos of this plant, click on      Ceanothus martini LARVAL HOST PLANT For photo of host, click on      Pinyon Pine, Pinus edulis      LIFE HISTORY: Ova:  6-7 days Larvae:  23 to 27 days Pupae:  Hibernate as pupae. Adults:  Unknown Broods: one Hibernation:  Overwinter as pupae Back to Top