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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 705 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 18, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 21, 2021
Observation date: Oct 15, 2021
Submitted by: sfj711
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Sep 28, 2021
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 30, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 24, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 13, 2021
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 14, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: De Baca County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Hidalgo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 26, 2021
Observation date: Jan 15, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
Observation date: Dec 27, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 07, 2021
Submitted by: rebeccagracey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 26, 2021
Submitted by: erinlale
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 23, 2019
Submitted by: Markus M
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: Jun 28, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: