The Pine Cone Elfin
Unlike any other elfin, the Eastern Pine Elfin with its bold pattern of brown and white stripes that resembles a pine cone, is the only butterfly species that uses pines as the larval host plant, preferring the hard pines such as the Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) or the Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana).
As with other elfins, this butterfly is univoltine producing only one adult generation per year and flying only for a short time in early spring. Both the larvae and the adults are smartly colored to mimic the host plant to evade predators.
Right now, in the dead of winter, this species is a very small pupa trying to survive the harsh winter conditions. The adults will emerge sometime in spring.
Eastern Pine Elfin -First of Year- (Callophrys niphon) Anne Arundel County, Maryland
The Pine Cone Elfin
Unlike any other elfin, the Eastern Pine Elfin with its bold pattern of brown and white stripes that resembles a pine cone, is the only butterfly species that uses pines as the larval host plant, preferring the hard pines such as the Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) or the Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana).
As with other elfins, this butterfly is univoltine producing only one adult generation per year and flying only for a short time in early spring. Both the larvae and the adults are smartly colored to mimic the host plant to evade predators.
Right now, in the dead of winter, this species is a very small pupa trying to survive the harsh winter conditions. The adults will emerge sometime in spring.
Eastern Pine Elfin -First of Year- (Callophrys niphon) Anne Arundel County, Maryland