Leptotes marina explained

Leptotes marina, the marine blue or striped blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in North America and Central America.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

The wingspan is 22–29 mm. Adults are on wing from April to September in the north and all year round in south.^[4] Its habitats include weedy, open sites and deserts.^[5]

Ecology

The larvae feed on Astragalus, Amorpha californica, Acacia greggii, Dalea purpurea, Dolichos lablab, Galactia, Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Prosopis glandulosa, Lysiloma thornberi, Lathyrus odoratus, Medicago sativa, Lotus scoparius dendroides, Phaseolus, Wisteria sinensis and Plumbago.

Larvae are also associated with introduced Iridomyrmex humilis (Argentine ants).^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) (Reakirt, 1868). 14 December 2021. Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility.
2. Gall. Wayne K.. Andrle. Robert F. 1994. Significant Range Extension of Leptotes Marina (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) Into New York State. The Great Lakes Entomologist. 26. 4.
3. Web site: "Leptotes marina" (Reakirt, 1868). Instituto de Biología, UNAM.
4. Web site: Marine Blue Leptotes marina (Reakirt, 1868). Butterflies and Moths of North America.
5. Web site: NatureServe Explorer 2.0. 2022-02-20. explorer.natureserve.org.
6. Brown. John Wesley. December 1989. Urban biology of Leptotes marina (Reakirt) (Lycaenidae). Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society. 44. 200–201.