Insects · La Saladita, Guerrero

Western Pygmy-Blue

Brephidium exilis

Spanish: Mariposa Azul pigmea

The western pygmy blue (Brephidium exilis or Brephidium exile) is one of the smallest butterflies in the world and the smallest in North America. It has reached Hawaii, as well as the Persian Gulf, including eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Upperside copper brown with dull blue at the bases of both wings. Underside of hindwing is copper brown with white at the base; fringe mostly white; 3 small black spots near base;...

TaxonomyInsecta › Lepidoptera › Lycaenidae

Local records17 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)

Global records20,032 on iNaturalist

Most recent records2023 – 2025

Months of the 8 most recent records

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Recent local sightings

2025-02-25 — observation by zihuadean
2023-11-10 — observation by zihuadean
2023-10-29 — observation by victor0001
2023-08-17 — observation by barbyescaler
2023-08-16 — observation by barbyescaler
2023-08-11 — observation by sosar

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Insects guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/brephidium-exilis/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.