Marine Blue
Leptotes marina (Reakirt, 1868)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside blue; male with purple tinge, female with no white. Underside of forewing with unbroken pale brown bands from costa to inner margin.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods.
Flight: April-September in the north, all through the year in South Texas and southern California.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leadwort (Plumbago) and many legumes including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus), and mesquite (Prosopis).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical and southwestern open areas including mesquite scrub, city gardens, desert, alfalfa fields, and waste areas.
Range: Southern California east through the Southwest, Mexico and Baja California to Guatemala. Wanders and temporarily colonizes north to Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1166 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 29, 2024
Submitted by: Mulberry
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 29, 2024
Observation date: Oct 26, 2024
Submitted by: Mulberry
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 27, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: billygigoza
Region: Baja California Norte, Mexico
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2024
Submitted by: Klspeer1
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Apr 27, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: La Paz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 06, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 14, 2024
Submitted by: jbaca59
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
Observation date: Aug 21, 2024
Submitted by: befreebutterfree
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 17, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2024
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Rosa Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 21, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: pinon11
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 19, 2024
Observation date: Jun 15, 2024
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2024
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2024
Observation date: May 12, 2024
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2024
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