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.
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