About Echinargus isola (Reakirt, 1866)
Echinargus isola (Reakirt, 1866), commonly known as Reakirt's blue, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Echinargus. This species is permanently found in Central America and the extreme southern region of the United States. It undergoes regular annual migration through most of the United States, reaching as far north as the Canada–United States border, and only very rarely moves further into southern Canadian prairies. The wingspan of adult Reakirt's blue ranges from 16 to 23 mm. In the northern parts of its range, adults are active on the wing from June through October; in the southern parts of its range, adults can be seen year-round. Its typical habitats include fields, gardens, open areas, and areas containing its host plants. The species' larvae feed on plants in the Fabaceae family, with a particular preference for mesquites of the genus Prosopis. Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar from spearmint, white sweet clover, and a variety of other herbaceous plants.
