Marine Blue
Leptotes marina (Reakirt, 1868)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside blue; male with purple tinge, female with no white. Underside of forewing with unbroken pale brown bands from costa to inner margin.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods.
Flight: April-September in the north, all through the year in South Texas and southern California.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leadwort (Plumbago) and many legumes including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus), and mesquite (Prosopis).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical and southwestern open areas including mesquite scrub, city gardens, desert, alfalfa fields, and waste areas.
Range: Southern California east through the Southwest, Mexico and Baja California to Guatemala. Wanders and temporarily colonizes north to Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
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 49 - 72 of 1175 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 30, 2023
Submitted by: bapeck8
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 03, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 07, 2023
Observation date: Aug 24, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 23, 2023
Observation date: Aug 06, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 15, 2023
Submitted by: PaulaLyons
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 28, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 03, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2023
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: Jbartkus
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Lunamothdog
Region: Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: vprabhakaran
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Apidologist
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
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