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 145 - 168 of 1220 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 09, 2019
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Washington County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Nov 13, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: teachsci
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Nov 06, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2022
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 29, 2022
Observation date: Oct 18, 2022
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: Rmclaughlin
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 19, 2022
Observation date: Oct 16, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Oct 10, 2022
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: May 12, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Texas, Kimble County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 08, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2021
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Crosby County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 07, 2022
Observation date: Oct 04, 2022
Submitted by: Mmutzig
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 04, 2022
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