Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male light blue with a darker narrow border; female dark brown, often with wing bases blue. Underside gray; both wings with a row of dark postmedian dashes. Florida butterflies have one submarginal eyespot on hindwing; Southwest butterflies have two.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (2 - 3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during warm hours of the day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds or leaves of host plant; caterpillars feed on flowers and seedpods.
Flight: Throughout the year in Texas and south Florida, late summer in other parts of its range.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of woody legumes including partridge pea (Cassia brachiata), mesquite (Prosopis species), and rosary pea (Abrus precatorius).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open woodland, desert scrub, dunes, pastures, road edges, and vacant lots.
Range: U. S. Southwest, South Texas, Florida and the Keys south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to South America. Strays to North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, and Nevada.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 631 verified sightings
Observation date: May 18, 2020
Submitted by: wtjones
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: wtjones
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2020
Observation date: Dec 27, 2017
Submitted by: Jimmy Acorn
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 03, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: vmaglio
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: DannyboyKS
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 04, 2020
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 06, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 13, 2020
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 13, 2020
Observation date: Apr 18, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 01, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 01, 2020
Observation date: Mar 08, 2020
Submitted by: cskipper
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 26, 2020
Observation date: Mar 23, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2020
Observation date: Feb 16, 2020
Submitted by: sji1226
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 18, 2020
Observation date: Dec 11, 2019
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 17, 2020
Observation date: Jan 01, 2020
Submitted by: Niki Robertson
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 14, 2020
Observation date: Jan 10, 2020
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 28, 2020
Observation date: Jan 24, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 25, 2020
Observation date: Mar 03, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2020
Observation date: Jan 02, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2020
Observation date: Dec 31, 2019
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2019
Observation date: Dec 25, 2019
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 29, 2019
Observation date: Dec 01, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 03, 2019
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