Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Hops Azure
Celastrina humulus Scott & D. Wright, 1998


Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male powdery blue. Female with extensive black and iridescent blue variably invaded by white scaling. Underside of hindwing mostly white with few black spots or none.
Wing Span: 13/16 - 1 1/16 inches (2.1 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars eat flowers.
Flight: One flight from mid-June to early July just after flight of Spring Azure .
Caterpillar Hosts: Hopes (Humulus japonica) and lupine in one drainage.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountain foothill canyons and ravines from about 5800-6500\', usually associated with patches of hops.
Range: Colorado Front Range from Larimer County south to El Paso County.
Conservation: Habitat may be threatened by the spread of alien weeds and resultant wildfires.
NCGR: G3 - very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range
Management Needs: Survey habitats and protect them from alteration and exotic plants.
Comments: NULL