Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,874 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Silvery Blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Silvery Blue
Glaucopsyche lygdamus, the silvery blue, is a small butterfly native to North America. Its upperside is a light blue in males and a dull grayish blue in females. The underside is gray with a single row of round spots of differing sizes depending upon the region.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Silvery Blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,669 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 1,007 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Vermont | 581 | June | May–Jun |
| Colorado | 546 | June | May–Jul |
| Washington | 515 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Wyoming | 280 | June | May–Jul |
| Maine | 240 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 226 | May | May–Jun |
| New Hampshire | 197 | May | May–Jun |
| Montana | 190 | June | May–Jul |
| New York | 160 | May | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 149 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Maryland | 144 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Utah | 138 | May | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | 126 | June | Apr–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 95 | May | May–Jun |
| Wisconsin | 92 | May | May–Jun |
| Michigan | 81 | May | May–Jun |
| Alaska | 77 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arizona | 76 | June | May–Jul |
| Nevada | 45 | May | Apr–May |
| North Dakota | 43 | June | Jun–Jun |
| South Dakota | 37 | June | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 33 | May | May–Jun |
| Nebraska | 33 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 24 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Virginia | 15 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Ohio | 12 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Arkansas | 7 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Tennessee | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
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 Silvery Blue?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Silvery Blue most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Vermont.