Appearance:  Above, the male is lilac blue with wide, dark border; females more brownish blue and may have orange band at outer margin of hindwing. Both sexes have cell-end bars on forewing and hindwing.  Below, both sexes gray; hindwing has a pale orange submarginal band containing metalic spots. Postmedian spots are pale brown or gray, but not black.

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

Habitat: Rocky hilltops and slopes, forest openings, high plains, and barren slopes above timberline.

Flight Times: June to August; one brood.  Above treeline, hibernate first year as egg and second winter as mature caterpillar.

Larval Foodplant: Legumes - milk vetch, locoweed, lupines and clover.

Did You Know...
Most often found in barren windswept ares with low growing vegetation. Adults usually fly close to the ground (Opler).