Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Zizula cyna (W. H. Edwards)
Orig. Comb: Lycaena cyna W. H. Edwards, 1881. Type locality: San Antonio, Texas
Identification
When alive the eyes of Zizula are gray. They are black in our other Blues (except for Brephidium), as well as in most other Lycaenidae.
Holds antennae with ends curved down (most Blues hold them approximately straight or even slightly upturned near the tip).
Hemiargus (Echinargus) isola is similar below, but black spots making up the arc are more cicular (crescent-shaped on Cyna). Cyna Blue does not have conspicuous large dark spots at lower border of hind wing (present in H. isola), and has a dark bar (usually split into two spots) across the middle of the discal cell on the lower front wing (absent in H. isola).
Celastrina species may look similar, but average larger in size, have forwings less rounded, and have spots in postmedian row usually narrower and less bold. Celastrina species lack the mark in the middle of the discal cell on the lower front wing. Not likely to be found in same areas, but possible.
Range
s. TX to Argentina. Also strays from AZ to n. TX, CO -
Map (MPG)
Season
records for most months in Texas (MPG)
Food
Larvae on flower buds of Acanthaceae. Recorded as ovipositing on Dyschoriste linearis (Acanthaceae) in Arizona [Jim Brock]. Adults nectar at flowers and visit mud and puddles.
Life Cycle
Caterpillars feed on flower buds of Acanthaceae
Remarks
Males are among our smallest Butterflies. The smaller butterflies of Brephidium (with perhaps congeneric Oraidium in Africa), are apparently very closely related to Zizula, even though the color pattern is quite different. They share the character (rare in North American Blues) of having non-black (gray) eyes while living.
