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 647 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 17, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020
Observation date: Oct 17, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 18, 2020
Observation date: Oct 11, 2020
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 17, 2020
Observation date: Oct 13, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 14, 2020
Observation date: Oct 07, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 13, 2020
Observation date: Oct 09, 2020
Submitted by: Argyle
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 10, 2020
Observation date: Sep 28, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 04, 2020
Observation date: Oct 03, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 04, 2020
Observation date: Sep 21, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 25, 2020
Observation date: Sep 18, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: Noquarter
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Aner
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
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: Cyrus Li
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
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