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 49 - 72 of 6669 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 08, 2021
Submitted by: Roose
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Apr 13, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Clinton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Apr 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Treutlen County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Apr 04, 2022
Submitted by: annegp
Region: Lancaster County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Mar 25, 2022
Submitted by: annegp
Region: King George County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 20, 2022
Observation date: Mar 31, 2022
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 14, 2022
Observation date: Apr 24, 2022
Submitted by: davek
Region: Salem County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: May 23, 2022
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Camden County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jun 05, 2022
Observation date: May 14, 2019
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Sequatchie County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: Apr 05, 2019
Submitted by: ChrissyL
Region: Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: May 18, 2019
Submitted by: Smalltowngirl
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: Mar 20, 2018
Submitted by: ChrissyL
Region: Sullivan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 01, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: Apr 15, 2022
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 25, 2022
Observation date: Apr 12, 2022
Submitted by: crandal
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 16, 2022
Observation date: Apr 10, 2022
Submitted by: blablancwilis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: azukoff
Verified date: Apr 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 12, 2022
Observation date: May 13, 2021
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2021
Submitted by: Mercedes-Fletcher
Region: Columbiana County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2013
Submitted by: chuck meier
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 31, 2022
Observation date: Apr 16, 2016
Submitted by: chuck meier
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 31, 2022
Observation date: Mar 30, 2021
Submitted by: yardbird
Region: Camden County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 30, 2022
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