Spring Azure
Celastrina ladon (Cramer, 1780)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Seasonally variable and sexually dimorphic. Upperside of males blue, females with some black at outer edge of forewing. Late spring and summer forms with white above. Underside hindwing gray-white with faded small black dots, darker gray with larger black spots, or with blotches and black margins in the center.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 3/8 inches (2.2 -3.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol and perch all day but are most active from midafternoon until dusk. Eggs are laid on flower buds. Caterpillars feed on flowers and fruits and are tended by ants. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Many broods from January-October along the Gulf Coast; progressively shorter flights northward; May-August in Canada.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flowers of a variety of woody shrubs and occasionally herbs including dogwood (Cornus florida), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americana), meadowsweet (Spiraea salicifolia), and Collinsia.
Adult Food: Flower nectar from dogbane, privet, New Jersey tea, blackberry, common milkweed, and many others.
Habitat: Openings and edges of deciduous woods, old fields, wooded freshwater marshes and swamps.
Range: Alaska and Canada south of the tundra through most of the United States except the Texas coast, southern plains, and peninsular Florida; south in the mountains to Columbia.
Conservation: This species comprises a complex of 4-5 separate species, some of which may be of conservation concern.
NCGR:
Management Needs: None reported. Note: In addition to the Appalachian Azure, Atlantic Holly Azure, Dusky Azure, and Hops Azure, this "species" is in reality still a complex of additional species whose identity is under current research. At present it is not possible to separate all of the records for these species into individual species maps. We look forward to doing this in the future.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Celastrina ladon
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 6669 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2011
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Putnam County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 05, 2024
Observation date: Apr 30, 2024
Submitted by: jim8435wisc
Region: Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 23, 2024
Observation date: Apr 13, 2022
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: Bookworm86
Region: Bedford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Mar 09, 2023
Submitted by: Chrysanthemum
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Mar 26, 2023
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Hopewell, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Apr 14, 2024
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 17, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 23, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: ravenfrank1
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 20, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: May 07, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Erie County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 11, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2015
Submitted by: Jay Cossey
Region: Martin County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: May 08, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: Mar 02, 2024
Submitted by: Ty-Sharrow
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 04, 2024
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 15, 2023
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Champaign County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 02, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
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