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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 289 - 312 of 874 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 22, 2019
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: gregslak
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: Nov 25, 2018
Submitted by: Craig M Lipski
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 27, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 30, 2019
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: csienko
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 25, 2019
Observation date: Jul 20, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 21, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: sfbaywildlife
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: Nancy Hamlett
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 14, 2019
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: Nancy Hamlett
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 13, 2019
Observation date: Jul 08, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 06, 2019
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2019
Observation date: Jun 14, 2019
Submitted by: Jrock-kodama
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 19, 2019
Observation date: Jun 10, 2019
Submitted by: cherylthor66
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 14, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: cherylthor66
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 13, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: cherylthor66
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 13, 2019
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 12, 2019
Observation date: May 22, 2019
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 02, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 02, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 26, 2019
Observation date: May 18, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 19, 2019
Observation date: May 08, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 08, 2019
Observation date: Apr 27, 2019
Submitted by: opiliones
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 29, 2019
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