Endangered Resources Program Species Information
Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici)

Henry's Elfin Photo by Mike Reese. Check the photos tab for additional photos.
Photo © Mike Reese

Overview

Species Overview

Henry's elfin (Callophrys henrici), a State status taxagroup, has been found in pine barrens and oak savanna, occasionally in boggy areas.. Adults are usually present from mid May to early June, sometimes emerging earlier in abnormally advanced seasons.

Status and NHI Documented Occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status (State and Federal Status) and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici). See the Working List Key for more information about the abbreviations used. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. For invertebrates, dots depict locations from the "Invertebrate Atlas," a database with occurrences of rare and common aquatic and select terrestrial invertebrate species found in Wisconsin and adjacent areas. While the invertebrate atlas is a quality assured database, not all records have been verified. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Summary Information
State Status:	SC/N
Federal Status in Wisconsin:	none
State Rank:	S1S2
Global Rank:	G5
Tracked by NHI:	Y
Species of Greatest Conservation Need:

Documented locations of Callophrys henrici in the Natural Heritage Inventory Database as of April 2009.

Detailed Information

Identification: Adults are orange-brown above with stubby tails on the hindwings. Male without oval stigma or scent spot at forewing front edge. The basal half of the hindwing is dark brown edged with white near the wing margins, with a central squarish projection extending into the outer area. The outer portion of the hindwing below is reddish to yellowish-brown shaded with gray marginally. The combination of tailed hindwings and sharply contrasting basal and outer areas of the hindwing below are diagnostic. Lack of a male stigma distinguishes Henry's elfin from all other elfin species (Borkin, pers. comm.). Wingspan: 25-30 mm. Length of forewing: 13-15 mm. Larvae are light green with a lighter green dorsal stripe and oblique lateral stripes. The larvae change abruptly to reddish-brown a few days before pupation (Layberry et al. 1998).

Similar Species: The frosted elfin (Callophrys irus) is the only other Wisconsin elfin having tailed hindwings. Males are darker brown above, but females are similar to C. henrici. Both sexes are distinguished by having less distinct contrast between the basal and outer areas of the hindwing below and the lack of white edging between the two areas in the frosted elfin. The hoary elfin (C. polios) lacks tails.

Habitat: Pine barrens and oak savanna, occasionally in boggy areas. Microhabitat includes flower parts and fruits of the hostplants.

Nectar Source: Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.) and rock cress (Arabis lyrata).

Host Plant: The hostplant has not been recorded for Wisconsin. In other Midwestern areas the butterflies use blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), plums (Prunus spp.), and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) near Ottawa, Ontario. Hollies (Ilex spp.) and redbud (Cercis canadensis) are the preferred hostplants in the southern US, but redbud is not indigenous to Wisconsin. Populations in the northeast have been recorded using mountain holly (Ilex mucronata).

Associated Species: Other elfins.

State Distribution: Uncommon and localized in much of the Wisconsin range. Adams, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, Marinette, Oneida, Price, St. Croix, Waushara, and Wood counties. It is usually found in small numbers, but is more frequent in Burnett County. It has not been found in a number of areas that appear to be good habitat.

Global Distribution: Widespread but sporadic in Eastern North America.

Threats: Habitat loss due to woody species and forest encroachment. Overwintering immatures are presumed to be exposed and vulnerable to being killed by fire. Larvae are likely to be impacted by Bt spraying for gypsy moth control.

Phenology: Adults are usually present from mid May to early June, sometimes emerging earlier in abnormally advanced seasons.

Life History: Univoltine. Young larvae bore into the flower parts and fruits of their hostplants and are very sluggish, not moving much until before pupation, which occurs in the leaf litter (Layberry et al. 1998).

Survey Guidance: Often sips moisture from damp trails in the forest. New records should be documented with voucher specimens.

Inventory, Monitoring and Research Needs: Locate additional populations. Boggy areas as well as barrens should be searched. Verify the hostplant.

Management Guidance: Sites managed with fire should be divided into several burn units leaving the majority of the site unburned in a given season. Avoid burning adjacent units the following season or in succession.

Information originally presented as part of the Online Field Guide to Rare Lepidoptera: Bogs and Barrens.

Photos

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