# Anna's Blue (*plebejus anna*) The Anna's Blue is a beautiful butterfly with vibrant blue wings! It flutters around gardens and meadows, bringing joy to everyone who sees it. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Meadows, gardens, and open fields. - **Also known as:** Anna's Butterfly, Plebejus Butterfly ![Anna's Blue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plebejus_anna_6135.jpg&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plebejus_anna_6135.jpg) ## Appearance The Anna'S Blue is a small butterfly with brilliant iridescent blue upper wings in males, often with dark borders. Females have a more subdued blue with broad black edges. Its underside is greyish-brown with a distinct row of small black spots, often ringed with white or orange. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Lycaeides ## Interesting facts - Anna's Blue caterpillars sometimes camouflage themselves by mimicking bird droppings! - Sometimes, the blue of their wings shifts slightly, appearing different from various angles! - The dazzling blue on their wings isn't paint, but light bouncing off tiny, clear scales! - Their long, coiled 'tongue' is perfect for sipping nectar, like a tiny built-in straw! ## Special abilities - **Shimmering Disguise:** Anna'S Blue has microscopic scales on its wings that create stunning iridescent blue colors because of how light reflects, helping them attract mates. - **Ant Alliance:** Anna'S Blue caterpillars can produce sweet honeydew that attracts ants, which then protect the caterpillars from predators. - **Nectar Sucker:** Anna'S Blue has a long, straw-like proboscis that allows it to reach deep into flowers to drink nectar, helping them get energy. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-32 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 7-28 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Anna's Blue butterflies sip sugary nectar from flowers and their caterpillars munch on plant leaves. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) eat plant leaves, while adults exclusively drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, Lupine leaves, Vetch leaves, Clover leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Bigleaf Lupine (*Lupinus polyphyllus*) — Larvae feed on its leaves. - **Symbiotic with:** Common Field Ant (*Formica neogagates*) — Ants protect caterpillars for honeydew. - **Eaten by:** Common Wasp (*Vespula vulgaris*) — Wasps prey on caterpillars. - **Depends on:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Adults drink nectar from its flowers. ## 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. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [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:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Anna's 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 Anna's Blue's wingspan? 25-32 mm ### How big is Anna's Blue? 10-15 mm ### How long does Anna's Blue live? 7-28 days ### What does Anna's Blue eat? Anna's Blue butterflies sip sugary nectar from flowers and their caterpillars munch on plant leaves. ### Where is Anna's Blue usually found? Meadows, gardens, and open fields. ### How does Anna's Blue hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Anna's Blue have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Pasayten Wilderness](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pasayten-wilderness) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [E.C. Manning Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/e-c-manning-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park ## 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: [Anna's Blue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-blue)