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 489 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 22, 2017
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2017
Observation date: Sep 26, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 14, 2017
Observation date: Sep 27, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: Cuba
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Oct 11, 2017
Observation date: Sep 27, 2017
Submitted by: wayne13114
Region: United States
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Oct 11, 2017
Observation date: Oct 06, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 09, 2017
Observation date: Oct 07, 2017
Submitted by: PaulaLyons
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 09, 2017
Observation date: Oct 01, 2017
Submitted by: dsjue
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 06, 2017
Observation date: Sep 21, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 21, 2017
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 20, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Oct 18, 2015
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 02, 2017
Observation date: Aug 06, 2017
Submitted by: Joanie Howe
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Jul 03, 2017
Submitted by: Joanie Howe
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2017
Observation date: Aug 12, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 08, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2017
Observation date: Jul 10, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2017
Observation date: Jul 19, 2017
Submitted by: greenecycle
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 21, 2017
Observation date: Jun 16, 2017
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2017
Observation date: May 31, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2017
Observation date: Jun 06, 2017
Submitted by: the janitors kid
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 26, 2017
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