Appalachian azure | skymeadows

Appalachian azure (Celastrina neglecta-major)

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

FAMILY: Gossamer-wing Butterflies (Lycaenidae)
SUBFAMILY: Blues (Polyommatinae)

IDENTIFICATION: Upperside of male all blue. Female without much
white scaling on hindwing. Underside of hindwing mostly chalky
white with submarginal row reduced to 1 or 3 distinct black spots.

LIFE HISTORY: Caterpillars eat flowers.

FLIGHT: One flight from May-June in the Appalachians.

WING SPAN: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.9 cm).

CATERPILLAR HOSTS: Bugbane (Cimicifuga racemosa).

ADULT FOOD: Flower nectar.

HABITAT: Rich, deciduous woods, especially near streams.
RANGE: Central and southern Appalachians from southern
Pennsylvania south to northern Georgia. Isolated populations
in southwest Missouri, eastern Tennessee, central Kentucky,
and southern Ohio.

CONSERVATION: Habitat may be threatened by the spread of garlic
mustard (Alliaria officinalis).

NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G4 - Apparently secure globally,
though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery.

MANAGEMENT NEEDS: Survey habitats and protect them from
alteration and exotic plants.

SKY MEADOWS OCCURRENCE:

Note: Due to seasonal conditions in this region, occurrence may vary from

year to year. The designation of occurrence may range over two or more

categories and may vary even during a single season.

Key to Checklist

A   Abundant: Easy to see very large numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
C   Common: Usually each to see good numbers of individuals in appropriate habitat
      at proper time of year.
U   Uncommon: Sometimes found in appropriate habitat and proper time of year,
      usually in low numbers.
O   Occasional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times a year, usually
      in low numbers.
R   Rare: Small chance of being found, even in appropriate habitat at proper time of
      year. There are few individuals and may not be present every year.
X   Extirpated: Formerly present, no longer occurs in Sky Meadows Park.