Appearance:  Tailless.  Above, male is gray-brown; female light brown. Below, reddish or purplish-brown to gray, variable. Postmedian band on hindwing and forewing usually with white.  Inner half of hindwing darker than the outer half and often shows a grayish patch at the outer edge of the hindwing postmedian band.

Wingspan: Small; 7/8 to 1 1/8 inches.

Habitat: Gullies, washes, canyons, rocky outcrops; foothills.

Flight Times: March to June; one brood.  Chrysalis hibernates.

Larval Foodplant:  Stonecrop family (Crassulaceae).

Did You Know…
Elfins are often the first non-hibernating butterflies to appear in spring.  In Colorado males perch in gulches to watch for females. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars feed on leaves; older ones on flowers and fruits.

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