Plebejus anna, or Anna's blue, is a species of blue in the butterfly family Lycaenidae. It is found in North America.[1][2][3]

Plebejus anna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Plebejus
Species:
P. anna
Binomial name
Plebejus anna
(W H Edwards, 1861)
Male Anna's Blue

Once considered as one species with the Northern Blue(Plejebus idas), they are now recognised as a distinct species. The Anna's blue can be very similar to the Melissa Blue in appearance. For the males they may be more bluish white and white outlines around the wings. As for the females they are known to be slightly varied such as having brown wings with orange submarginal bands which are often less developed than those that can be found on the Melissa Blue(Plejebus idas) and sometimes can be completely absent, and whitish outline on the wings. The Anna's normally takes fight during the summer (1 Brood).[4]

Larval food plant: Blueberry and other heaths, and legumes.[4]

The MONA or Hodges number for Plebejus anna is 4374.1.[5]

Anna's blue, Plebejus anna

Subspecies edit

These six subspecies belong to the species Plebejus anna:

  • Plebejus anna anna (W. H. Edwards, 1861)
  • Plebejus anna azureus (J. Emmel, T. Emmel & Mattoon in T. Emmel, 1998)
  • Plebejus anna benwarner Scott, 2006
  • Plebejus anna lotis (Lintner, 1878)
  • Plebejus anna ricei Cross, 1937
  • Plebejus anna vancouverensis (C. Guppy & J. Shepard, 2001)

References edit

  1. ^ "Plebejus anna Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  2. ^ "Plebejus anna". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  3. ^ a b Kaufman, Kenn; Brock, Jim (2003). Kaufman Field guide to Butterflies of North America. Tucson, Arizona: Hillstar Editions L.C. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-0-618-76826-4.
  4. ^ "North American Moth Photographers Group, Plebejus anna". Retrieved 2019-09-24.

Further reading edit

External links edit