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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters (Lycaenidae) » Blues (Polyommatinae) » Leptotes » Marine Blue - Hodges#4357 (Leptotes marina)

Species Leptotes marina - Marine Blue - Hodges#4357

Classification · Hodges Number · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Internet References

Reakirt's Blue? (Or is it Marine Blue?) - Leptotes marina

Leptotes marina-Marine blue? - Leptotes marina

Butterfly on Bellflower--ventral view - Leptotes marina

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies and Skippers)

Family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)

Subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues)

Genus Leptotes

Species marina (Marine Blue - Hodges#4357)

Hodges Number

4357

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Leptotes marina (Reakirt)

Orig. Comb: Lycaena marina Reakirt 1868

Numbers

2 spp. n. of Mex.

Size

Wing span: 2.2 - 2.9 cm

Identification

Upperside blue; male with purple tinge, female with no white. Underside of forewing with unbroken pale brown bands from costa to inner margin.

Range

mostly sw US / Mex. to C. Amer. - Map (MPG)

Habitat

Subtropical and southwestern open areas including mesquite scrub, city gardens, desert, alfalfa fields, and waste areas.

Season

April-September in the north, all through the year in South Texas and southern California.

Food

Caterpillar hosts: Leadwort (Plumbago) and many legumes including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus), and mesquite (Prosopis).

Life Cycle

Males patrol to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods.

See Also

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)

Internet References

Butterflies of America - BOA

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

Contributed by Joel Kits on 17 March, 2005 - 10:43pm
Additional contributions by Matthew Roth, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn
Last updated 30 January, 2017 - 3:31pm

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