Observation date: April 28, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: Was with Rick Cech, author of 'Butterflies of the East Coast' who Identified it as a Holly Azure. There were Holly Trees everywhere at 'his' Hessel's Hairstreak site (that he shared after meeting him at another site where we were photographing Hoary Elfin) and we could see the azures flying all around it.
Status: Resident
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: November 17, 2024
Coordinator notes: I'd really like this to be Celastrina idella, but I think it's just too far north. There are historical sightings of this sp. in NJ, but they're unaccompanied by photographs, and it's not easy to distinguish this little butterfly from Celastrina ladon, the Spring Azure. So I have my doubts about how reliable those sightings are. The well-supported sightings are further south, in VA, NC, SC and GA. I hope one of the other coordinators will correct me if I'm mistaken. JRains
