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 1198 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: KittynNM
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 22, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 12, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 24, 2025
Observation date: May 28, 2025
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: bentert
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: Ron Blanchard
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jul 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 08, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 08, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: Flagstaff123
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: May 17, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 15, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: Apr 07, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2025
Observation date: Mar 23, 2025
Submitted by: scream of the b...
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2025
Observation date: Apr 02, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: Jan 12, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 20, 2025
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