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 534 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 14, 2018
Observation date: Sep 30, 2018
Submitted by: DiSH Photography
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 01, 2018
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 22, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 29, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 10, 2018
Observation date: Oct 14, 2016
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 04, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: leonelabaez
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 14, 2018
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jul 07, 2018
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2018
Observation date: Jun 30, 2018
Submitted by: kellydfl
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 03, 2018
Observation date: Nov 24, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: philohela
Region: Nye County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: John Wilson
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 15, 2018
Observation date: Sep 08, 2012
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 07, 2018
Observation date: Apr 28, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: May 02, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 22, 2018
Observation date: Mar 24, 2018
Submitted by: AJVanh.arch
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 26, 2018
Observation date: Apr 03, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 22, 2018
Observation date: Mar 25, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 12, 2018
Observation date: Apr 11, 2018
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 11, 2018
Observation date: Feb 24, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Mar 13, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Mar 22, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 23, 2018
Observation date: Feb 04, 2018
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 19, 2018
- 1 of 23
- next ›