# Western Tailed-Blue (*Cupido amyntula*) The Western Tailed-Blue is a small butterfly with beautiful blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny places during warm days. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Tailed Blue Butterfly ![Western Tailed-Blue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cupido_amyntula_'Western_Tailed_Blue'.jpg&width=800) Photo: Doug Waylett, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cupido_amyntula_'Western_Tailed_Blue'.jpg) ## Appearance The Western Tailed-Blue is a small butterfly, with males displaying iridescent blue upperwings, while females are more grayish-blue. Both sexes feature tiny, delicate 'tails' on their hindwings, alongside small black spots on their otherwise pale gray undersides. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Elkalyce ## Interesting facts - It helps wildflowers grow by spreading pollen as it sips nectar. - Its caterpillar shares sweet 'honeydew' with ants who then guard it! - Many male butterflies gather at muddy puddles to sip vital salts. - This butterfly can spend the whole winter safely hidden as a pupa! ## Special abilities - **Decoy Tails:** Western Tailed-Blue has tiny wing tails that wiggle, making predators target the wrong end, allowing the butterfly to escape. - **Ant Whisperer:** Its caterpillars have special glands that secrete a sugary liquid, attracting ants who then protect them from other predators. - **Leafy Camouflage:** The pale, patterned underside of its wings helps the Western Tailed-Blue blend perfectly with bark or dry leaves when resting. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-30 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-270 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while caterpillars munch on the leaves of pea plants. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) feed on plant leaves and buds; adults feed solely on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Lupine leaves, Vetch leaves, Clover leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Arctic Lupine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-lupine) (*Lupinus arcticus*) — Larvae munch on its leaves and flower buds. - **Symbiotic with:** Silky Ant (*Formica fusca*) — Ants protect its caterpillars in exchange for sugary honeydew. - **Pollinates:** [Red Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-clover) (*Trifolium pratense*) — Sips nectar, carrying pollen between flowers. - **Eaten by:** Flower Crab Spider (*Misumena vatia*) — Can ambush butterflies resting on flowers. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [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 Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Western Tailed-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 Western Tailed-Blue's wingspan? 20-30 mm ### How big is Western Tailed-Blue? 10-15 mm ### How long does Western Tailed-Blue live? 30-270 days ### What does Western Tailed-Blue eat? Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while caterpillars munch on the leaves of pea plants. ### Where is Western Tailed-Blue usually found? Grasslands ### How does Western Tailed-Blue hunt? Foraging ### How many legs does Western Tailed-Blue have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [P Ranch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/p-ranch) — Oregon, US · Historic Site - [Glines Canyon Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glines-canyon-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Otter Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/otter-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see Western Tailed-Blue](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-tailed-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: [Western Tailed-Blue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-tailed-blue)