Reakirt's Blue

Reakirt's Blue

Echinargus isola

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Saguaro National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

220 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026
643 In all 12 parks
December Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Reakirt's Blue

Echinargus isola, or Reakirt's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is the sole representative of the monotypic genus Echinargus. It is found in Central America and the extreme southern U.S. Echinargus isola migrates regularly throughout most of the U.S. almost to the Canada–United States border, and very rarely into the southern prairies.

The wingspan is 16–23 mm. Adults are on wing from June to October in the north and year-round in south. Its habitats include fields, gardens, open areas, and host plants. The larvae feed on Fabaceae, particularly mesquites (Prosopis species). Adults feed on flower nectar from spearmint, white sweet clover, and a variety of other herbs. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
2 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
3 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
4 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
5 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
6 Padre Island National Seashore 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
7 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
8 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
9 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
10 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
11 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
12 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 San Antonio 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
2 Puebla 🇲🇽 México
~10%
3 Austin 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
4 Monterrey 🇲🇽 México
~10%
5 Denver 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
6 Guadalajara 🇲🇽 México
~10%
7 Mexico City 🇲🇽 México
~10%
8 San Luis Potosí 🇲🇽 México
~10%
9 Dallas 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
10 Torreón 🇲🇽 México
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Reakirt's Blue in Saguaro National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Reakirt's Blue sighting in Saguaro National Park on a given day, based on 220 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 15th most-seen of the 354 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Reakirt's Blue in Saguaro National Park?

October and December

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Reakirt's Blue in Saguaro National Park on a given day, against about 10% in March and July–August, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Reakirt's Blue?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Reakirt's Blue sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Saguaro National Park the best place to see a Reakirt's Blue?

2nd of 12

Of the 12 parks where we can rate Reakirt's Blue sightings, Saguaro National Park ranks 2nd at about 20%. The best odds are in Big Bend National Park (United States, about 30%).

Which relatives of the Reakirt's Blue live in Saguaro National Park?

Same family: Lycaenidae

The closest relatives of the Reakirt's Blue that you can see in Saguaro National Park (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are Marine Blue (about 20%), Ceraunus Blue (about 20%) and Gray Hairstreak (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Reakirt's Blue sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Reakirt's Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Saguaro National Park (220 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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