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| Summer Azure |
Latin
Name: Celastrina neglecta |
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Genus: Celastrina Species: neglecta |
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Comments: |
| Although the Summer Azure ranges throughout much of the Eastern U.S., it is an uncommon butterfly in Florida, being relegated primarily to the northern portion of the state. Adults of this small dusty blue butterfly are found in and along woodlands but readily venture out into nearby open areas in search of nectar. They have a moderately slow dancing flight and are often encountered fluttering high among the branches of trees and shrubs. Males often congregate at damp ground. |
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Life
Cycle: |
Broods: |
multiple generations |
Egg: |
whitish green, laid singly on flower buds of host |
Larva: |
variable; green to pinkish green with dark dorsal stripe and cream bands |
Host Plants: |
flowers of various trees and shrubs including New Jersey Tea, dogwoods and sumac |
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Host
Plants: |
Host
Plants: |
flowers of various trees and shrubs including New Jersey Tea, dogwoods and sumac |
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Habitat: |
Habitat: |
open, deciduous woodlands, forest edges, roadsides, old fields and utility easements and gardens |
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Wingspan: |
Inches: |
.8 - 1.25 |
Centimeters: |
2 - 3.2 |
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Appearance: |
Sexes: |
dissimilar, female has increased white scaling above and wide forewing borders |
Compare: |
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) is more heavily marked below. Cassius Blue and Ceraunus Blue have orange and black ventral hindwing eyespot. Eastern Tailed-Blue has small tail and ventral orange hindwing spots. |
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| Markings: |
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Above:
- male is light blue with narrow, faint dark forewing border; female is light blue with increased white scaling and wide, dark forewing border
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Below:
- chalky white with small dark spots and bands
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Abundance: |
rare to occasional |
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Map Legend: Resident (green) | Stray
(Red) |
