Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus)

	Frosted Elfins are rare and local in North Carolina, usually found in the Coastal Plain near patches of Baptisia or Lupinus spp. This fresh female is ovipositing (laying eggs) on Baptisia tinctoria. Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.
	Frosted Elfin is similar to Henry's Elfin, but with more extensive white frosting and a black spot in the midst of the frosting towards the outer edge of the hindwing. Also compare with Brown Elfin, which lacks the short tail and has less frosting on the hindwing. Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.
	Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/19/09.
	A more worn individual. Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/23/06.
	This one's quite worn, but posed so nicely I couldn't resist taking a few shots. Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/23/06.
	Moore Co., NC 4/18/10.

Detail of top photo.

Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Same female.

Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Same female.

Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

This fresh female was ovipositing on Baptisia tinctoria.

Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC 4/23/06.

On 21 April 2002 Harry LeGrand made an amazing discovery of 6 (high count for the state at the time) in a powerline in eastern Franklin County, NC (in the Piedmont region), along with patches of Baptisia spp. Randy Emmitt and I relocated this colony on 24 April and took lots of photos. The three photos here are of three different individuals that day.

Franklin Co., NC 4/24/02.