Lupine Blue (Icaricia lupini) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,533 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Lupine Blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lupine Blue
Aricia lupini, the lupine blue, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found from south-western Canada, south through much of mountainous and intermountain western United States and high plains to northern Mexico.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lupine Blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 659 | May | Mar–Jul |
| California | 415 | July | May–Jul |
| New Mexico | 322 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Colorado | 299 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Oregon | 225 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Washington | 134 | June | May–Aug |
| Idaho | 109 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 79 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 63 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Utah | 63 | July | May–Aug |
| Texas | 57 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Nevada | 44 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Nebraska | 30 | May | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 18 | June | Jun–Jun |
| North Dakota | 7 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Kansas | 5 | May | Apr–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Gossamer-winged Butterflies)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Red-banded Hairstreak
Marine Blue
Ceraunus Blue
Summer Azure
Western Pygmy-Blue
Reakirt's Blue
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lupine Blue?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Lupine Blue most often seen?
The most observations come from Arizona, California, New Mexico.