Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)

Fairly common in the NC piedmont (& western portion of the coastal plain) & more common in the NC mountains, taxonomy of these azures is still under study. Males of this species are more violet-blue above than the medium blue Holly Azures or Summer Azures. Also known as "Edwards'" Azure, these butterflies are single brooded in NC generally flying from Feb into May. Note that current azure experts believe it's not possible to identify many (most) azures from photographs of the undersides alone. For positive identification, one should examine the top (dorsal) surfaces of the wings to look at subtle color differences and scale structures.


Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure Orange Co., NC 14 Mar 2008


Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure Orange Co., NC 11 Apr 2005	Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure Orange Co., NC 30 Mar 2005

	Male -- in flight photo. Note the whitish sheen and the hints of violet shades within the blue. Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006
	Roadkilled male; possibly a Summer Azure, according to Harry Pavulaan. Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006


Graham Co., NC 28 Apr 2006	Graham Co., NC 28 Apr 2006


Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006	Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006

Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure

Durham, NC
2 Apr 2006

Same individual in both pictures

Different individual from above with a different spot pattern: Note that this bug does not show the spot PAIR at the mid costal (leading) edge of the hindwing (as in the individual above). Instead, the lower spot is offset to the apex of the vertical line in the middle of the wing. I don't usually see this pattern.

Orange Co, NC
29 Mar 05

Very worn
Haywood Co., NC
13 May 2005

Azure puddle party, possibly a mix of Spring and Summer.

Males imbibe salts & other minerals from moist ground in behaviors known as "puddling".

Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

Azures in a puddle party with a Juvenal's Duskywing

Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... March 29, 2005 | Updated on ... Mar 15, 2008 | jspippen@duke.edu