Summer Azure
Celastrina neglecta
This is clearly neither of the
other Blues listed here, nor any of the Hairstreaks. The Tvetens
mention Dusky Azures, and Spring Azures. The Butterflies and
Moths of North America show the Dusky Azure does not
approach this location. The Tvetens' photograph of a Spring
Azure is not a good match to this one, nor is the photograph
of the Spring Azure on the webpage of Butterflies and Moths
of North America. The pattern of dark marks in the middle hindwing
and forewing do not match.
The Butterfles and Moths of North
America webpage describes a Summer
Azure. "Upperside of male powdery blue often with ill-defined
white patch on hindwing. Female with much white scaling on both
forewings and hindwings. Underside of hindwing pale gray or white
with small black dots and submarginal dark zigzag line."
Notice a < shape on what may
be the second-from-bottom row of striations on the hindwing.
That mark is also present on the Butterfles and Moths of North
America Summer Azure. And it is again present on BugGuide's Celestrina neglecta.
The Summer Azure is not on the
USGS checklist
for Houston County.
Photo taken with a Nikon D80, using
a Nikon 180mm, f/2.8 manual focus lens.
June 8, 2007.