Species Celastrina serotina - Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6

4363.6

Late Spring Azure.

Late Spring Azure was suggested as the more appropriate name by the authors. Could be that as the caterpillar feeds on many other plants than cherry galls, the name Cherry Gall Azure might have been confusing.

Part of the Spring Azure complex of species. Described as a new species by Pavulaan and Wright (2005).

serotina: from the Latin sero or serus meaning "coming late". In a biological sense meaning coming later in the season than the Spring Azure.

Forewing length 10-15 mm

One of the Azure species that has pale wing surfaces on the underside. Perhaps best separated by its size, distribution, and time of flight.

2 images to date (22 Jan 06) in the Guide: #16426 ventral male, #34126 dorsal female

Pavulaan & Wright (2005) give a very detailed description.

northeastern United States and eastern Canada

All habitats within its range, including suburban lawn and garden areas

Flight season about 4 weeks in any one location. Flies between the earlier Spring Azure and the later Summer Azure. Extreme dates are early May to early July. Flies in the early part of this period in its most southern range, and in the latter part of this period in its northern range. Emerges after Spring Azure and before Summer Azure.

In southern part of range, caterpillars feed almost exclusively on galls on the upper surface of leaves of Black Cherry (Prunus serotina); other food in northern part of range includes Viburnum, Diervilla, Aralia, Ceanothus, Cornus.

Single brooded (1 generation per year)

Canada records may be invalid. See update by Schmidt & Layberry 2016 (1).

Pavulaan, H. and D.M. Wright. 2005. Celastrina serotina (Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae): A new butterfly species from the northeastern United States and Canada. The Taxonomic Report 6(6): 1-18. 25 figures.

abstract of the above-cited paper by Pavulaan and Wright (ResearchGate)