Callophrys mossii

Moss's elfin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Callophrys
Species:	C. mossii
Binomial name
Callophrys mossii (H. Edwards, 1881)
Subspecies
Six, see text
Synonyms
Thecla irus var. mossii H. Edwards, 1881 Incisalia mossii Incisalia polios schryveri Cross, 1937 Incisalia doudoroffi dos Passos, 1940 Incisalia doudoroffi windi Clench, 1943 Callophrys (Incisalia) fotis bayensis Brown, 1969

Callophrys mossii, the Moss's elfin, stonecrop elfin and Schryver's elfin), is a butterfly native to North America that belongs in the family Lycaenidae. It is found from British Columbia south to southern California and east to Wyoming and Colorado in isolated populations. The habitat consists of rocky outcrops, woody canyons and cliffs.^[1]

The wingspan is 22–28 mm. The upperside of the males is grayish brown with a tan patch on the hindwing inner margin. Females are light brown to tan with dark borders. The underside is coppery brown to purplish brown. The inner half of the hindwings is darker than the outer half. Adults are on wing from March to June in one generation per year.

The larvae feed on Sedum (including S. spathulifolium and S. lanceolatum), Sedella, Dudleya and Parvisedum species. Young larvae feed on the leaves of their host plant. When older, they feed on the flowers and fruits.

Subspecies[]

Listed alphabetically:^[2]

• C. m. bayensis (Brown, 1939) – San Bruno elfin (California)
• C. m. doudoroffi dos Passos, 1940 (California)
• C. m. hidakupa Emmel, Emmel & Mattoon, 1998 (California)
• C. m. marinensis Emmel, Emmel & Mattoon, 1998 (California)
• C. m. mossii (Vancouver Island)
• C. m. schryveri (Cross, 1937) (Colorado)
• C. m. windi (Clench, 1943) (California)

References[]