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Taxonomic Groups
Subfamily: Blues (Polyommatinae)
Subfamily Description: Blues are tiny to small butterflies of the Family Lycaenidae. Distributed worldwide, they are most diverse in Southeast Asia, tropical Africa, and northern temperate regions. Most of the nearly 50 North American species are found in the west. Adult males are predominantly blue above, due to reflected light rather than pigmentation. Some males and most females are largely brown above. Below, wings of both sexes are usually gray-white with black spots or streaks. Adults in some genera (Euphilotes, Lycaeides, Plebulina, and Icaricia) have more or less prominent orange submarginal bands on their hindwings. Most adults are found near their host plants, and they do not fly long distances, though some tropical and subtropical species undertake long migrations. Adults visit flowers for nectar. Males frequent moist sand and mud, and females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves or flowers. As caterpillars, they secrete sugary secretions that attract ants, and caterpillars of some species are raised in ant nests. Blues usually overwinter in the pupal stage.Sort method:
 European Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus) |
 Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius) |
| Marine Blue (Leptotes marina) |
| Cyna Blue (Zizula cyna) |
| Western Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium exilis) |
| Eastern Pygmy-Blue (Brephidium pseudofea) |
| Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) |
| Western Tailed-Blue (Cupido amyntula) |
| Hawaiian Blue, Blackburn's Blue (Udara blackburni) |
| Spring Azure (Celastrina "ladon") |
| Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia) |
| Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta) |
| Echo Azure (Celastrina echo) |
| Mexican Azure (Celastrina gozora) |
| Dusky Azure (Celastrina nigra) |
| Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglecta-major) |
| Hops Azure (Celastrina humulus) |
| American Holly Azure (Celastrina idella) |
| Cherry Gall Azure (Celastrina serotina) |
| Arrowhead Blue (Glaucopsyche piasus) |
| Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus) |
| Sonoran Blue (Philotes sonorensis) |
| Small Dotted-Blue (Philotiella speciosa) |
| Pumice Dotted-Blue (Philotiella leona) |
| Western Square-dotted Blue (Euphilotes battoides) |
| Central Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes centralis) |
| Bernardino Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes bernardino) |
| Intermediate Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes intermedia) |
| Euphilotes glaucon (Euphilotes glaucon) |
| Ellis' Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes ellisi) |
| Bauer's Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes baueri) |
| Pacific Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes enoptes) |
| Rocky Mountain Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes ancilla) |
| Mojave Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes mojave) |
| Rita Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes rita) |
| Pallid Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes pallescens) |
| Spalding's Dotted-Blue (Euphilotes spaldingi) |
| Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) |
| Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola) |
| Miami Blue (Cyclargus thomasi) |
| Nickerbean Blue (Cyclargus ammon) |
| Northern Blue (Plebejus idas) |
| Anna's Blue (Plebejus anna) |
| Melissa Blue (includes Karner Blue) (Plebejus melissa) |
| Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus) |
| San Emigdio Blue (Plebejus emigdionis) |
| Boisduval's Blue (Plebejus icarioides) |
| Shasta Blue (Plebejus shasta) |
| Acmon Blue (Plebejus acmon) |
| Lupine Blue (Plebejus lupini) |
| Veined Blue (Plebejus neurona) |
| Cranberry Blue (Plebejus optilete) |
| Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon) |
| 'Rustic' Arctic Blue (Plebejus glandon rusticus) |
| Sierra Nevada Blue (Plebejus podarce) |
| Cassiope Blue (Plebejus cassiope) |
| Friday's Blue (Plebejus fridayi) |
