Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 17,508 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
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 Western Pygmy-Blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Western Pygmy-Blue
The western pygmy blue (Brephidium exilis or Brephidium exile) is one of the smallest butterflies in the world and the smallest in North America. It has reached Hawaii, as well as the Persian Gulf, including eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Upperside copper brown with dull blue at the bases of both wings. Underside of hindwing is copper brown with white at the base; fringe mostly white; 3 small black spots near base;...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Western Pygmy-Blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 7,655 | October | Mar–Nov |
| Texas | 3,295 | October | Aug–Dec |
| Arizona | 2,372 | October | Aug–Dec |
| New Mexico | 1,284 | September | Jul–Nov |
| Nevada | 792 | October | Jun–Nov |
| Utah | 618 | October | Aug–Nov |
| Colorado | 516 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Hawaii | 326 | March | Aug–Jun |
| Idaho | 277 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Florida | 105 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Oklahoma | 72 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Washington | 71 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Oregon | 38 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Louisiana | 36 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Kansas | 22 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Alabama | 18 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Wyoming | 5 | October | Oct–Oct |
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
Reakirt's 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 Western Pygmy-Blue?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from June to November.
Where is Western Pygmy-Blue most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Arizona.