Marine Blue
Leptotes marina (Reakirt, 1868)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside blue; male with purple tinge, female with no white. Underside of forewing with unbroken pale brown bands from costa to inner margin.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol to find females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods.
Flight: April-September in the north, all through the year in South Texas and southern California.
Caterpillar Hosts: Leadwort (Plumbago) and many legumes including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), milkvetch (Astragalus), and mesquite (Prosopis).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Subtropical and southwestern open areas including mesquite scrub, city gardens, desert, alfalfa fields, and waste areas.
Range: Southern California east through the Southwest, Mexico and Baja California to Guatemala. Wanders and temporarily colonizes north to Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
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 1 - 24 of 1224 verified sightings
Observation date: May 02, 2026
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 13, 2026
Observation date: May 03, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: May 03, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 25, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 26, 2026
Observation date: Apr 21, 2026
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 24, 2026
Observation date: Apr 16, 2026
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 16, 2026
Submitted by: erinlale
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 11, 2026
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 17, 2026
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 11, 2026
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2026
Observation date: Mar 26, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 28, 2026
Observation date: Mar 23, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 25, 2026
Observation date: Mar 22, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 25, 2026
Observation date: Mar 20, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 21, 2026
Observation date: Feb 14, 2026
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 18, 2026
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: Mojogypsy
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Oct 29, 2024
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Jul 23, 2025
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 08, 2026
Observation date: Oct 04, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Sep 10, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 14, 2025
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
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