Species Celastrina ladon - Spring Azure - Hodges#4363

4363

Southern Spring Azure

Wingspan: 3/4 - 1 1/4".

much of central and eastern North America (Scott 1986)

wooded areas

Where it occurs, this species often flies after C. lucia, but before C. serotina. In the mid-Atlantic region, this species begins flying in April.

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) among other spring-flowering trees and shrubs.

Host plants can be herbs, vines, shrubs or trees of many families.

Eggs are laid on the host plant flower buds singly. Larvae tended by ants. Individuals overwinter as pupae. One or two flights a year depending on location. Flights occur between Feb 1 and Nov 30 in the more southern parts of the range, and often between May 15-Aug 15 in the most northern regions (Scott 1986)

Adults live only a few days, females typically emerging and mating on the same day and laying eggs on the next, rarely surviving another day or two. Mass. Audubon

See updates by Schmidt & Layberry 2016 (1) and Pavulaan 2014 (2).

BAMONA

EOL

Raising butterflies