Melissa Blue

One of the most widespread Blues of the West. Larvae tended by ants. Very small. Must be alert around any desert wild flowers for movement, to spot this one. It is similar in many respects to other Western Blues, such as Reakirt's, Marine Blue and Western Pygmy Blue. And, it typically perches with wings closed, making the beautiful blue dorsal side almost impossible to photograph.
The posted specimen was accidentally spotted while stalking a Black Saddlebag Dragonfly near the eastern bank of the Rio Grande River, at Mesilla, New Mexico.