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Photo#45798
bumpy caterpillar - Celastrina serotina

bumpy caterpillar - Celastrina serotina
Port Franks Forested Dunes, Lambton, Ontario, Canada
July 6, 2004
Size: about 10 mm
on unidentified shrub in sandy area

Images of this individual: tag all
bumpy caterpillar - Celastrina serotina bumpy caterpillar - Celastrina serotina bumpy caterpillar host plant - Celastrina serotina

Moved
Moved from Azures.

Hi Robin
I asked Dr. David Wright to look at all the 2006 Azure photos. He offered congratulations on these images. "This is a mature larva of C. serotina on NJ Tea (Ceanothus americana), a known host. The site represents a new county record for C. serotina in Ontario."

 
C. serotina
Thanks, Tony. I'll update my records at home.

Host Plant: Ceanothus?
Something about the shape of the inflorescence reminds me of Ceanothus, though there's not enough detail to more than vaguely guess. Besides, I only know some of the California species.

The resemblance of the caterpillar to the flowers suggests that this species is a specialist and not an opportunist there by chance.

Update: how about Celastrina neglecta or one of that complex? The only larval image I could find looks similar except for coloration: Spring Azure

 
Ceanothus host plant?
I added a larger pic of the host plant. If it's New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus), then maybe this is a Summer Azure; the CBIF page says the larvae feed on New Jersey Tea and other flowering shrubs.

Reminds us of
the Lycaenidae. Wagner has an image of an ant checking out a Glaucopsyche on page 106 that looks similar to yours, but we can never seem to get these sorted out to our satisfaction.

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