Page 155 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Lycaenidae
DISTRIBUTION Western North America, from British Columbia south to
California and southeast to Texas
HABITAT Shrubby riparian areas from sea level to high elevations
HOST PLANTS Wide variety of shrubs and bushes, including Mountain Balm
(Ceanothus greggii), many other Ceanothus spp., and Red Osier
Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

NOTE Caterpillar that is variably colored for better camouflage on

different host plants
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common within its range

ADULT WINGSPAN
1–1⅛ in (25–28 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
⁹∕₁₆ in (14 mm)
CELASTRINA ECHO
ECHO BLUE 153

(W. H. EDWARDS, 1864)

The Echo Blue caterpillar hatches in two days from eggs that
the adult female lays singly among terminal buds, pushing
them as far out of sight as possible. The first instar chews round

holes into buds, hollowing out the inside. The caterpillars do
not fully enter the buds but often have their heads and necks
extended deeply. They feed voraciously and forcibly eject
frass, which prevents contamination of feeding sites and
helps conceal their presence from predators; small predatory
bugs take a large number of larvae. The larvae develop rapidly
through four instars, taking as little as 12 to 14 days from egg
hatch to pupation.

Mature caterpillars pupate under cover away from the plant,
and the pupa overwinters. One to three broods are produced
annually, depending on habitat latitude and elevation. The
color variation apparent in the caterpillars may be influenced

by host plant coloration. The Echo Blue is one of a number
of closely related blue butterflies occurring throughout
North America and Eurasia.
The Echo Blue caterpillar is green but highly
variable in the extent and coloration of additional
markings. There are usually reddish dorsal
plates on each segment. Some have a bold, white
ventrolateral stripe, while others are pale green
laterally, whitish below, and punctuated with
a large, green spot on each segment.
Actual size