Colorado Natural Heritage Program Logo Colorado Natural Heritage Program Logo CNHP
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • Biennial Report
      • Strategic Plan
    • Conserving Biodiversity
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
      • Employment
      • Internship
      • Volunteer
    • Meetings
    • The NatureServe Network
    • Partners
  • Our Work
    • Ecology
    • Wetlands
    • Plants
    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Education
    • Invasive Species
  • Our Services
    • Database Development
    • GIS Analysis & Modeling
    • Mapping
    • Surveys & Inventories
    • Monitoring & Assessment
    • Conservation Planning
  • Our Data
    • About CNHP Data
    • Request Data
    • Contribute Data
    • Download Data
    • Tracking Lists
    • PCA Reports
    • Help & Documentation
  • Maps
    • CNHP Spatial Layers
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • COMaP
    • Conservation Environmental Review Tool
  • Library
    • Reports
    • PCA Reports
    • Tracking Lists
    • Field Guides
      • Rare Plant Guide
      • Colorado Wetland Field Guides
  • Blog
  • Donate Now

CNHP Staff Member Captures Images of the Rare Hops Blue Butterfly

July 16, 2015

CNHP Environmental Review Coordinator and photographer Michael Menefee recently captured photos of the rare hops blue butterfly (Celastrina humulus). Menefee took the photos for the Celastrina Project, a research effort led by CNHP zoologist Rob Schorr. The project funds CSU honor’s students to conduct research on rare species like the hops blue.

Hops blue butterflies occur in a very narrow global range, found only in Colorado and Montana. Colorado’s population are scattered along the Front Range from Larimer County south to El Paso County. This delicate butterfly relies on wild hops (Humulus lupulus var. neomexicana) to complete its life cycle. Along the Front Range, wild hops grow in cool, moist canyons.

A hops blue butterfly rests on poison ivy at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Photo by Michael Menefee.

The stunning image below, captured by Menefee, shows a female hops blue butterfly ovipositing her eggs into a small male wild hops flower.

A female hops blue butterfly ovipositing her eggs into a wild hops flower. Photo by Michael Menefee.

Menefee took the photos at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, while accompanying two CSU honor’s students: Alyssa Meier and Rachel Maison. The students have been conducting research this summer at the Air Force Academy on the resident population of hops blue butterflies.

A resting hops blue butterfly on a wild hop leaf. Photo by Michael Menefee.

SHARE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
LINKEDIN
REDDIT
EMAIL
Filed Under: Students, Zoology

Free Wetland Training in Colorado Springs, Sept 9-10, 2015
Provide Your Comments for the Newly Updated Colorado Rare Plant Guide

About Us

About Us
Conserving Biodiversity
Contact Us
Staff Directory
Careers
Employment
Internship
Volunteer
Meetings
The NatureServe Network
Partners

Our Work

Ecology
Wetlands
Plants
Animals
Climate Change
Education
Invasive Species

Blog Archive

Blog Categories

Web Projects

  • Rare Plant Guide Online
  • Colorado Wetland Info Center
  • COMaP - Colorado Protected Lands
  • Colorado Bat Working Group
  • STReaMS - Endangered Fishes Database

About Us

  • About Us
  • Conserving Biodiversity
  • Contact Us
  • Staff Directory
  • Careers
  • The NatureServe Network
  • Partners
  • Site Map
Warner College of Natural Resources Logo
  • Apply to CSU
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Statement
  • Search CSU
  • CSU Land Acknowledgement
  • CSU Principles of Community
© 2025 Colorado Natural Heritage Program
Colorado State University Logo
  • About Us
    ▼
    • About Us
      ▼
      • Biennial Report
      • Strategic Plan
    • Conserving Biodiversity
    • Contact Us
    • Staff Directory
    • Careers
      ▼
      • Employment
      • Internship
      • Volunteer
    • Meetings
    • The NatureServe Network
    • Partners
  • Our Work
    ▼
    • Ecology
    • Wetlands
    • Plants
    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Education
    • Invasive Species
  • Our Services
    ▼
    • Database Development
    • GIS Analysis & Modeling
    • Mapping
    • Surveys & Inventories
    • Monitoring & Assessment
    • Conservation Planning
  • Our Data
    ▼
    • About CNHP Data
    • Request Data
    • Contribute Data
    • Download Data
    • Tracking Lists
    • PCA Reports
    • Help & Documentation
  • Maps
    ▼
    • CNHP Spatial Layers
    • Wetlands Mapper
    • COMaP
    • Conservation Environmental Review Tool
  • Library
    ▼
    • Reports
    • PCA Reports
    • Tracking Lists
    • Field Guides
      ▼
      • Rare Plant Guide
      • Colorado Wetland Field Guides
  • Blog
  • Donate Now