Miami Blue
Cyclargus thomasi (Clench, 1941)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside mostly blue; female hindwing with orange spot at lower edge. Underside of both sexes with 2 eyespots on the outer margin and a wide white submarginal band.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 3 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plant. Caterpillars feed on flowers and may live inside the pods, eating seeds.
Flight: Throughout the year in Florida. Adults are in reproductive diapause during the winter generation from December-April.
Caterpillar Hosts: Balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) in the Sapindaceae family, possibly snowberry (Chiococca alba), and various legumes.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Openings and edges of tropical hardwood hammocks.
Range: Florida Keys and West Indies. Formerly in southern peninsular Florida.
Conservation: Loss of habitat due to urbanization has extirpated this butterfly on the Florida mainland. All Florida Keys populations should be protected.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Preserve habitats of balloon vine and nectar sources.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 27 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/large_11_4.jpg?itok=YOi68BTn)
Observation date: Feb 21, 2023
Submitted by: lumpydave84
Region: St. Thomas
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 03, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1290377.jpg?itok=bZ5VkXuy)
Observation date: Dec 28, 2017
Submitted by: Reach
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/miami_blue_cyclargus_thomasi_bethunebakeri_fl_monroe_county_-_long_key_sp_aug_10_2018.jpg?itok=049Xdg2B)
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/miami_blue_cyclargus_thomasi_bethunebakeri_fl_monroe_county_-_bahia_honda_june_21_2019b.jpg?itok=UBpIeruF)
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4140_7.jpg?itok=xVLfpv2k)
Observation date: Sep 11, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2019
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/miamiblue01a.jpg?itok=h3yOcwwU)
Observation date: May 10, 2006
Submitted by: Martin Reid
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0935-edit.jpg?itok=onJnD3wV)
Observation date: Feb 10, 2017
Submitted by: bob_noble
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 28, 2017
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/greyhairstreakllj.jpg?itok=2vadlFWq)
Observation date: Nov 09, 2011
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/cyclargus-thomasi-noelillj.jpg?itok=uceVl5AA)
Observation date: Sep 04, 2012
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/cyclargus_thomasimiamibluellj1.jpg?itok=tuXM7cIa)
Observation date: Dec 24, 2011
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 22, 2012
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/thmoasi.jpg?itok=yPuBmQ_X)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heink, C.L.)
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 14, 2007
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Plantation Key County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Key Largo County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Stock Island County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Big Pine Key County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dry Tortugas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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