Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Brown Elfin,
Callophrys augustinus

Size: Wingspan is 7/8 to 1 1/8 inch.

Similar Species:
Henry`s Elfin
Frosted Elfin

Habitat: Poor soil woodlands, rocky outcroppings with blueberries (Vaccinium species), pinewoods with turkey oak scrub and powerline cuts.

Abundance: Rare to uncommon in the eastern piedmont and the mountains.

Flight Period: Flies from mid March until mid April.

Comments:
You will notice this elfin has no tails.

The top photo was taken at Horseshoe Mountain in Chesterfield Co., SC on March 20, 2005. The rest of the Brown Elfins photos were taken in Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve at Paint Hill on March 14, 2007. They were seen nectaring on Pixie Moss, Pyxidanthera brevifolia (Wells).

The courtship flight is something to watch. They fly together 3-6 inches apart and spin in a Z or W type circle up and down 2 to 6 foot off the ground for long periods of time.

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