Miami Blue
Cyclargus thomasi (Clench, 1941)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside mostly blue; female hindwing with orange spot at lower edge. Underside of both sexes with 2 eyespots on the outer margin and a wide white submarginal band.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 3 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of host plant. Caterpillars feed on flowers and may live inside the pods, eating seeds.
Flight: Throughout the year in Florida. Adults are in reproductive diapause during the winter generation from December-April.
Caterpillar Hosts: Balloon vine (Cardiospermum halicacabum) in the Sapindaceae family, possibly snowberry (Chiococca alba), and various legumes.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Openings and edges of tropical hardwood hammocks.
Range: Florida Keys and West Indies. Formerly in southern peninsular Florida.
Conservation: Loss of habitat due to urbanization has extirpated this butterfly on the Florida mainland. All Florida Keys populations should be protected.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Preserve habitats of balloon vine and nectar sources.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 26 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 28, 2017
Submitted by: Reach
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2019
Observation date: May 10, 2006
Submitted by: Martin Reid
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2018
Observation date: Feb 10, 2017
Submitted by: bob_noble
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Feb 28, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2012
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
Observation date: Nov 09, 2011
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Apr 16, 2013
Observation date: Dec 24, 2011
Submitted by: LLJohnson
Region: Dominican Republic
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 22, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Heink, C.L.)
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Heitzman, J.R.)
Verified date: Mar 14, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Stock Island County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Big Pine Key County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Dry Tortugas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Eliott Key County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sugarloaf Key County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Plantation Key County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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