5,785 observationsVulnerable
Melissa Blue
Plebejus melissa
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia βΊPhylum: Arthropoda βΊClass: Insecta βΊOrder: Lepidoptera βΊFamily: Lycaenidae βΊGenus: Plebejus
About
The Melissa blue (Plebejus melissa) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in western North America, from Canada to Mexico. The Karner blue (Plebejus melissa samuelis) is a subspecies of the Melissa blue, and was described by the novelist/lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov.