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 97 - 120 of 1208 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Lunamothdog
Region: Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: vprabhakaran
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Apidologist
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2023
Submitted by: williamharmonlds
Region: McKinley County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 07, 2023
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 07, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Chaves County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2023
Observation date: Apr 13, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 16, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Apr 27, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 21, 2023
Observation date: May 21, 2023
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 21, 2023
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