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Species Details

Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

Common NameShasta Blue SeasonalityOne yearly flight, peaking in late June to early July. IdentificationThe underside pattern and small size are most similar to the Acmon Blue (I. acmon). Shasta, however, lacks the spot in the middle of the discal cell of the forewing underside; Shasta also has much smaller orange spots on the hindwing underside margin than both the Acmon and Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa). Alternative nomenclature at the genus level is presented by Balint & Johnson (1997) and Gorbunov (2001).
Scientific Name Icaricia shasta Common Name Shasta Blue Habitat Prairie badlands and sparsely vegetated hill- and ridge tops. Seasonality One yearly flight, peaking in late June to early July. Identification
The underside pattern and small size are most similar to the Acmon Blue (I. acmon). Shasta, however, lacks the spot in the middle of the discal cell of the forewing underside; Shasta also has much smaller orange spots…
The underside pattern and small size are most similar to the Acmon Blue (I. acmon). Shasta, however, lacks the spot in the middle of the discal cell of the forewing underside; Shasta also has much smaller orange spots on the hindwing underside margin than both the Acmon and Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa). Alternative nomenclature at the genus level is presented by Balint & Johnson (1997) and Gorbunov (2001).
Life History
There is no information available for Canadian populations. In the western US, the larva is variously coloured brown, white or green with darker dorsal and lateral stripes and oblique brown stripes, or solid green…
There is no information available for Canadian populations. In the western US, the larva is variously coloured brown, white or green with darker dorsal and lateral stripes and oblique brown stripes, or solid green (Scott 1986). Pupae, which are often attached to the underside of a rock by a silk girdle, are equally variable in colour, ranging from tan to green (Scott 1986). The life cycle takes two years to complete in the US, hibernating as eggs and again as mautre larvae (Scott 1986).
Conservation No obvious concerns. Diet Info Larvae feed on a variety of legumes in the US, including species of Astragalus, Oxytropis, Trifolium and Lupinus (Scott 1986). Adults nectar at yellow composites (Bird et al. 1995). Range Southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan south to Colorado and east-central California (Opler 1999).

Citation

Page Citation for Icaricia shasta

Page Citation

"Species Details - Icaricia shasta, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2608/9-112788. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

References

Specimen Information

There are 8 specimens of this Species.

8 results plotted on map in 5 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

BIRD6240 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-07-02

BIRD6241 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2000-07-02

CBCC988 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park Collected ByChristensen, C. B. Date Collected2005-07-08

BIRD17234 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2006-06-12

BIRD10604 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-07-10

BIRD10605 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-07-10

BIRD10606 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByBird, C. D. Date Collected2005-07-10

BIRD38083 - Icaricia shasta

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park Collected ByButterfly Count members Date Collected2016-07-03

Adult Seasonal Distribution