# Acmon Blue (*Icaricia acmon*) The Acmon Blue is a small, beautiful butterfly with bright blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny areas, bringing joy to everyone who spots it! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Acmon Butterfly ![Acmon Blue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plebejus_acmon2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Calibas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plebejus_acmon2.jpg) ## Appearance The Acmon Blue has iridescent violet-blue wings with narrow black edges, sometimes featuring tiny orange spots near the hindwing margins, especially on females. Its undersides are a muted grey-brown with small black spots and a distinct orange band, making it different from other small blue butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Icaricia ## Interesting facts - Acmon Blue eggs are intricately sculpted, looking like a miniature, bumpy sea urchin under a microscope! - Acmon Blues taste with their feet, helping them find the perfect plant to lay their tiny eggs! - Male Acmon Blues flash their brilliant blue wings to impress females and signal to other males to stay away! - To warm up for flight, these cold-blooded butterflies must bask in the sun's warm rays! ## Special abilities - **Sparkling Signal:** Acmon Blue has iridescent blue wings that reflect light, helping males attract mates and possibly confuse predators. - **Nectar Straw:** Acmon Blue can sip sweet nectar with its long, coiled proboscis because it's shaped like a straw, helping them get food. - **Leafy Larder:** Acmon Blue caterpillars can munch on specific host plants because their bodies are adapted to digest those leaves. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-30 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 5 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Acmon Blues sip sweet nectar from various flowers to get energy. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars munch on plant leaves, while adult butterflies drink nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, wild buckwheat leaves, lupine leaves, clover leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [California Buckwheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-buckwheat) (*Eriogonum fasciculatum*) — Drinks nectar and spreads pollen between these important flowers. - **Pollinates:** Valley Lupine (*Lupinus microcarpus*) — Visits these vibrant flowers for delicious nectar, helping them reproduce. - **Eaten by:** [Say's Phoebe](https://www.snappit.app/explore/says-phoebe) (*Sayornis saya*) — This insect-eating bird often hunts adult butterflies for food. - **Depends on:** [Deerweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deerweed) (*Lotus scoparius*) — Caterpillars munch on its leaves to grow big and strong. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are gentle creatures. It's best to watch them from a distance and not try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Acmon Blue? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Acmon Blue's wingspan? 20-30 mm ### How big is Acmon Blue? 10-15 mm ### How long does Acmon Blue live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Acmon Blue fly? 5 km/h ### What does Acmon Blue eat? Adult Acmon Blues sip sweet nectar from various flowers to get energy. ### Where is Acmon Blue usually found? Grasslands ### How does Acmon Blue hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/antelope-valley-california-poppy-reserve-state-natural-reserve) — California, US · State Park - [Atchison Village](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atchison-village) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Blake Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blake-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Coloma](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coloma) — California, US · Neighborhood - [Forts Baker, Barry, and Cronkhite](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forts-baker-barry-and-cronkhite) — California, US · Historic District - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Acmon Blue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/acmon-blue) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Acmon Blue: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/acmon-blue)