Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 16,970 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
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 Reakirt's Blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Reakirt's Blue
Hemiargus isola, the Reakirt's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Central America and the extreme southern U.S. Hemiargus isola migrates regularly throughout most of the U.S. almost to the Canada–United States border, and very rarely into the southern prairies.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Reakirt's Blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 11,163 | April | Apr–Jun |
| Arizona | 2,093 | August | Apr–Nov |
| New Mexico | 1,067 | July | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 1,018 | July | Jun–Oct |
| California | 627 | July | Apr–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 443 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Nevada | 126 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 107 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Nebraska | 100 | June | Jun–Aug |
| Utah | 100 | July | May–Aug |
| Iowa | 25 | August | Jun–Sep |
| South Dakota | 23 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Minnesota | 18 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Arkansas | 17 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 11 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 10 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Missouri | 7 | June | May–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
Acmon 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 Reakirt's Blue?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to August.
Where is Reakirt's Blue most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico.