Western Tailed-blue (Everes amyntula) is in the Gossamer-winged Butterflies family (Lycaenidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,582 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
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 Western Tailed-blue: observations by month (U.S.)
About Western Tailed-blue
The western tailed-blue (Cupido amyntula) is a member of the family Lycaenidae and is seen across western North America as far north as Alaska. The upperside of the male butterfly is blue while the female has a darker brown band on the outer side of the wing. The underside is riddled with black spots, with a wingspan of 2.2 to 2.9 cm. The larvae feed on Thermopsis, Astragalus, Oxytropis, Vicia, and Lathyrus species.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Western Tailed-blue by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 952 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Colorado | 491 | June | May–Jul |
| Oregon | 307 | June | May–Jul |
| Utah | 181 | June | May–Jun |
| Washington | 155 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 148 | May | May–Aug |
| Alaska | 83 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Montana | 55 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 52 | May | May–Aug |
| Nevada | 39 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Wyoming | 32 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Idaho | 31 | May | May–Jun |
| South Dakota | 21 | June | May–Jul |
| Minnesota | 15 | May | May–Jun |
| Maine | 12 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Wisconsin | 7 | May | May–Jun |
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 Western Tailed-blue?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Western Tailed-blue most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Colorado, Oregon.