The Oklahoma Frosted Elfin Project documented the distrubution in Oklahoma of this rare butterfly and its host plants, Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa) and Nuttall's Indigo (B. nuttalliana).
The frosted elfin is a type of hairstreak belonging to the butterfly family Lycaenidae. It is small, with a wingspan not much wider than a thumbnail. It is mostly brown with very subtle markings and a frosted edge on the ventral hindwing. Like most hairstreaks, it sits with wings closed.
Historically, the frosted elfin has been found in the southeastern quarter of the state, starting from Murray County then southward to the Texas border and then east to Arkansas, encompassing 14 counties. This is a lot of ground to cover within the short window of the adult flight and makes it difficult to find new colonies.
Additional information about the butterfly and its conservation status on NatureServe Explorer.
Adults Emerge in mid-March
Adults are Flying from mid-March to late April
Egg Laying (oviposting) on host plants before and after blooming
Egg Hatching in a few days
Caterpillars (larvae) feed on the host plants early April to early June
Pupation (oversummer/overwinter) from mid-May to March the following year
In Oklahoma, the Frosted Elfin caterpillar is only known to feed on two plant species.
You can download a PDF guide to the wild indigo (Baptisia spp.) of Oklahoma.
Baptisia sphaerocarpa
Baptisia nuttalliana
©Bryan Reynolds
Oklahoma shares the hadros subspecies of the Frosted Elfin with Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Overall approximate range of the hadros subspecies of the Frosted Elfin.
Approximate range of the regional subspecies of the Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus hadros) in Oklahoma.
The Frosted Elfin can be easily confused with the Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), pictured above.
©Bryan Reynolds
