summer azure | skymeadows

summer azure (Celastrina neglecta)

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

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

IDENTIFICATION: Upperside of male powdery blue often with ill-
defined white patch on hindwing. Female with much white scaling
on both forewings and hindwings. Underside of hindwing pale gray
or white with small black dots and submarginal dark zigzag line.

LIFE HISTORY: Caterpillars eat flowers. Chrysalids overwinter until
flower late spring or summer.

FLIGHT: One flight from June to October.

WING SPAN: 15/16 - 1 1/8 inches (2.4 - 2.9 cm).

CATERPILLAR HOSTS: Racemose dogwood, New Jersey Tea, and other
plants.

ADULT FOOD: Flower nectar.

HABITAT: Various habitats including stream valleys, powerline
right-of-ways, gardens.

RANGE: Most of eastern and central United States as well as
southern Canada.

CONSERVATION: Not necessary.

NATURESERVE GLOBAL STATUS: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally,
though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the
periphery.

MANAGEMENT NEEDS: None reported.

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.