Eastern Pine Elfin - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Butterfly ID Thumbnail — Get Identification Help

Like all elfins, Eastern Pines are single-brooded spring fliers, but they tend to emerge later in the season and fly considerably longer than their relatives. In Alabama, they have been observed well into May, a late date for elfins.

Eastern Pine Elfin habitat typically contains small to medium pines in addition to more mature trees. Males perch near the tops of trees while searching for females and engage in typical elfin/hairstreak joisting. Nectar sources must also be nearby, so mass-planted pine monocultures seldom support pine elfin populations.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Baldwin, Bibb, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Cleburne, Colbert, DeKalb, Jefferson, Lawrence, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

11 - Colbert - 4/8/2017
2 - Shelby - 3/28/2018
2 - Shelby - 4/19/2001

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
							1	1	3	4	6	3	15	2	1	2	2	1	1			1

Habitat

Open woodlands, brushy fields, scrub and utility easements. Typically in the vicinity of sapling pines.

Eastern Pine Elfin (*Callophrys niphon*)

Shelby County

© Paulette Ogard 3/29/2020

Host and Nectar Plants

Various hard pines (Pinus spp.) are reported.

Loblolly Pine has been documented in Alabama but other pine species may also be used.

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) - Host Plant

For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above.

Landscaping Ideas

N/A

Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Eastern Pine Elfin Callophrys niphon

Distribution and Abundance

Habitat

Host and Nectar Plants

Landscaping Ideas

Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon) Photos

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
							1	1	3	4	6	3	15	2	1	2	2	1	1			1

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
							1	1	3	4	6	3	15	2	1	2	2	1	1			1

Eastern Pine Elfin Callophrys niphon

Distribution and Abundance

Habitat

Host and Nectar Plants

Landscaping Ideas

Related Links

Eastern Pine Elfin (Callophrys niphon) Photos

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
							1	1	3	4	6	3	15	2	1	2	2	1	1			1