Melissa blue

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Melissa blue (Plebejus melissa) is a small butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It lives in western North America, from Canada to Mexico. It has a wingspan of about 22–35 mm. It can be told apart from similar species by its orange submarginal band on the hindwing, often with iridescent blue spots, and by a wider marginal line where the veins intersect; the fringe is not checkered. It flies from April to August depending on location. The larvae feed on Lupinus, Medicago, and Lotus species. The Karner blue (Plebejus samuelis) was once considered a subspecies of the Melissa blue. Its conservation status is apparently secure (NatureServe).