Species Information

Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Insecta
      Order: Lepidoptera
        Family: Lycaenidae
          Genus: Euphilotes
            Species: ellisi

Ellis' Blue - Euphilotes ellisi

Ellis' Blue

Image courtesy of Biota Information System of New Mexico

370340

Species Extent (New Mexico)

Status

Global Rank: G2

State Rank: S1

Rank Metadata
State Rank: S1 Rank Changed: 03/11/2025
Rank Reviewed: 03/21/2000
Reason: <em>Euphilotes ellisi</em> also known as the Ellis Blue is a Colorado Plateau species found in shrublands and chaparral. The population size and trend are unknown for this species however, it is rarely recorded with just one observation in the last decade and just seven since 1982. This is highly unusual for butterfly species and could point to very low numbers or declining populations although this species is somewhat difficult to identify morphologically. There needs to be more research into the threats for this species however, it is known that this taxa is highly threatened by invasive species especially Cheatgrass as well as wildfire which both can kill off its two known host plants. More research is needed on how climate change may be affecting this species. This species is also at further risk from several life history characteristics that make it more prone to extinction including being univoltine, host specific, having a small geographic range, and a small wingspan. Only being known from seven points since 1982 we find six occurrences available for this species as Cheatgrass and wildfire could readily drive each of these populations to extinction. Reasonably one could go as low as one occurrence for this species seeing that it's only been observed at one point within the last decade however, we elect not to go this route currently. Additionally, Cheatgrass invasions and wildfires are likely to keep reducing the amount of habitat available for this species and the quality of this habitat. As a result, this species is currently assessed as S1 in New Mexico. However, a reassessment should be done if more information becomes available.
 
Ecological Factors
Specificity: N/A Range Extent: 5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Occurences: 6 - 20 Population Size: Unknown
Area of Occupancy: An Area of Occupancy of 6km2 was calculated using GeoCat with data from GBIF.org, Toliver et al. 2001, and Butterflies of New Mexico. Threat Summary: N/A

State Status:

Federal Status:

USFS Status:

BLM Status:

SWAP Status:

NMRP Strategy Status:

Observations in Natural Heritage New Mexico Database

Number of Subpopulations: 0

Number of Mapped Locations: 0

Number of Observations: 0


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