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 723 verified sightings
Observation date: May 13, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 15, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 09, 2022
Observation date: Mar 25, 2022
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 30, 2022
Observation date: Mar 11, 2022
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2021
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 04, 2022
Observation date: Dec 31, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 05, 2022
Observation date: Jan 01, 2022
Submitted by: Lani57
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 01, 2022
Observation date: Dec 28, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2022
Observation date: Dec 31, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 02, 2022
Observation date: Dec 22, 2021
Submitted by: Dan Green
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 23, 2021
Observation date: Nov 27, 2021
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Dec 05, 2021
Observation date: Nov 27, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun