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 73 - 96 of 6669 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: Victoire Batiste
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 30, 2022
Observation date: Apr 16, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jan 10, 2022
Observation date: Mar 20, 2021
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 07, 2021
Observation date: Mar 10, 2021
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 07, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2020
Submitted by: schaarschmidt
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 07, 2021
Observation date: May 28, 2017
Submitted by: drkilmer
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 08, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2021
Submitted by: Lmorens@verizon.net
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 05, 2021
Observation date: Apr 03, 2019
Submitted by: estanley
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: May 20, 2019
Submitted by: ewpoet
Region: Talbot County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: momtodem
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 31, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2016
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: May 22, 2014
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Apr 26, 2021
Submitted by: S_Gucciardo
Region: Washington County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Apr 28, 2012
Submitted by: dspicer
Region: Sequatchie County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 18, 2021
Observation date: Jun 07, 2021
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: May 13, 2021
Submitted by: mbroen
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 30, 2021
Observation date: Apr 26, 2021
Submitted by: L Reid
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 29, 2021
Observation date: May 06, 2021
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 29, 2021
Observation date: May 18, 2021
Submitted by: Jess D
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 19, 2021
Observation date: Mar 26, 2012
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 15, 2021
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