Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male light blue with a darker narrow border; female dark brown, often with wing bases blue. Underside gray; both wings with a row of dark postmedian dashes. Florida butterflies have one submarginal eyespot on hindwing; Southwest butterflies have two.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (2 - 3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during warm hours of the day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds or leaves of host plant; caterpillars feed on flowers and seedpods.
Flight: Throughout the year in Texas and south Florida, late summer in other parts of its range.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of woody legumes including partridge pea (Cassia brachiata), mesquite (Prosopis species), and rosary pea (Abrus precatorius).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open woodland, desert scrub, dunes, pastures, road edges, and vacant lots.
Range: U. S. Southwest, South Texas, Florida and the Keys south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to South America. Strays to North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, and Nevada.
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 73 - 96 of 821 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 12, 2022
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 07, 2022
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Curry County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Mar 31, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Nov 17, 2020
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 08, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 07, 2022
Observation date: Sep 23, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 02, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 25, 2021
Submitted by: ObserverofGod'sart
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Nov 14, 2021
Submitted by: Embunnik
Region: Texas, Medina County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Dec 05, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: Nancy Witthuhn
Region: Ness County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: NMElaine
Region: Catron County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2016
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jan 13, 2013
Submitted by: Tee-tee
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Oct 13, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Treutlen County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: jrfleullan
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 01, 2022
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