Mission Blue Butterfly – The Lawrence Hall of Science

The Lawrence Hall of Science

Icaricia icarioides missionensis

Mission Blue Butterfly

Herbivore: Eats leaves of Lupines or nectar

Geography: San Francisco Bay Area and Marin County

Habitat: Grasslands with larval host plant and nectar source

Interesting facts:

Their life cycle is in combination with the lupine plant life cycle
Although the life cycle last for a year, adults only live for one week
They use a proboscis on the underside of their head to take in plant nectar
They fall under the endangered species act of 1976
Female coloring displays as mostly brown with some blue coloring whereas males are light blue
Both males and females have off-white undersides with sporadic black spots

A Mission Blue Butterfly perched on a twig. The butterfly has iridescent blue wings with black borders and white spots. The background shows more greenery and foliage.

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Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

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