Celastrina lucia explained

Celastrina lucia, the lucia azure, northern azure, eastern spring azure or northern spring azure, is a species of butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found eastern North America, ranging from the Maritimes south through the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia.[1]

The wingspan is between 22–35 mm. Adults are sexually dimorphic. They are on wing from April to July.[2]

The larvae feed on Vaccinium species, including V. pallidum.

Taxonomy

Until the early 1990s, most North American azures were thought to be a single species, Celastrina ladon. More recently, research has revealed that there are many different species of azures, including C. lucia,[3] which had been treated as a subspecies of C. ladon.

Similar species

Notes and References

  1. http://bugguide.net/node/view/41512 Bug Guide
  2. Web site: Fownes, Sherri . Schmidt, B. C. . Species Details Celastrina ladon lucia . University of Alberta Museums . E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum . November 8, 2020.
  3. http://www.usanpn.org/Celastrina_ladon_complex Celastrina ladon complex - USA National Phenology Network