Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinus (Westwood, 1852)    Synonyms: Hodges #4322.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Lycaenidae   >   Genus Callophrys   

Status:

Brown Elfin (Callophrys augustinus) is a nickel-sized brownish butterfly, probably the most widespread member of its genus in Maryland. This butterfly flies early, generally April, probably lingering into May in more northerly areas. It utilizes various ericaceous species as host plants, and is therefore typically found in openings in forest with abundant blueberries or laurel, like bogs, barrens or balds (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith; Brock & Kaufman 2003; BAMONA site; Allen 1997).

Relationships:

Utilizes members of the Heath Family (Ericaceae), such as blueberries (Vaccinium sp.) and possibly others.

There are 87 records in the project database.

View images at BugGuide

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA AL WA FR CL MO HO BA BCHA CE PG AA CV CH SM KEQACN TA DO WI SO WO 
A Brown Elfin in Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/14/2013). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/28/2013). Photo by Annette Allor. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/26/2014). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin found in Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/22/2007). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Allegany Co., Maryland (4/21/2018). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/25/2021). Photo by Jim Moore. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/26/2009). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Frederick Co., Maryland (5/12/2018). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Brown Elfin in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/23/2019). (c) Reid Rumelt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Reid Rumelt via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Brown Elfin in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/29/2015). Photo by Kathy Barylski. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.