pigmy blue

insect

Also known as: Brephidium exilis

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "pigmy blue" refers to several small butterflies belonging to the genus Brephidium within the Lycaenidae family. These insects are a type of blue butterfly, known for their small size and often iridescent blue wings.12

The pigmy blue (Brephidium exilis) is noted as the smallest among the blue butterflies, with a wingspan of less than 12 mm. Blue butterflies, in general, are characterized by their rapid flight and delicate nature. Their larvae can produce honeydew, which attracts ants that then "milk" the larvae for this sweet substance. Some species, like the large blue, even spend their larval and pupal stages within ant nests.2

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blue butterfly
The pigmy blue (Brephidium exilis), the smallest blue, has a wingspan of less than 12 mm. The tailed blues (Cupido, sometimes Everes) have a tail-like extension on the hindwings.
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The pigmy blue (Brephidium exilis), the smallest blue, has a wingspan of less than 12 mm. The tailed blues (Cupido, sometimes Everes) have a tail-like extension on the hindwings.
Read More