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.