Observation date: May 04, 2018
Submitted by: fragglecat
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: None.
Status: Resident
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: June 25, 2018
Coordinator notes: Your picture is of the Northern Azure (use to be just Spring Azure), Celastrina lucia (subspecies sidara. Celastrina ladon is only found in the northeastern U.S. and not in Colorado although at one time that was the name used until more research was done. The Northern Azure is known for different markings on the hindwings below. The edge on the hindwing on this one is darkened and close to what is called "form marginata." Sometimes there are splotches in the middle of the wing too ("form lucia") and others in both places ("form lucimargina. Usually these are found in colder places, higher in the mountains usually in the eastern Colorado foothills and mountains. They are more common in the mountains west of the Continental Divide (the blue there is Celastrina lucia subspecies lumarco). Mike
