Holly Azure
Celastrina idella Wright & Pavulaan, 1999
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male all pale blue, sometimes with white scaling on hindwing. Female blue with small black area on forewing tip. Underside of hindwing pale gray with pale dark gray markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.9 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars eat flowers.
Flight: One flight from late February to early June, early in south of range, later in north. Usually flies after spring flight of Spring Azure.
Caterpillar Hosts: Hollies (Ilex species).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Rich, deciduous woods, especially near streams and acid bogs.
Range: Atlantic coastal plains from central New Jersey south to South Carolina.
Conservation: Not reported.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Survey habitats and protect them from alteration and exotic plants.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 225 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/248_holly_atlantic_azure.jpg?itok=RFoBF9xb)
Observation date: Apr 22, 2006
Submitted by: Russ Wigh
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 27, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/c34b58f0-9c30-43cd-b5a2-7e635454d5dd.jpeg?itok=W2ZdwUVz)
Observation date: Mar 22, 2021
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/azure-2_1.jpg?itok=UgSUXJN8)
Observation date: Feb 24, 2018
Submitted by: Jeanette Navia
Region:
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/spring_azure_img_9123.jpg?itok=h0YHfkO-)
Observation date: Jan 15, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jan 19, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/azure_holly_azure_3-19-20_priester_mg_8340.jpg?itok=4VaxoWv-)
Observation date: Mar 19, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 25, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/unknown_butterfly_15_0.jpg?itok=kt8ubyG7)
Observation date: Apr 13, 2019
Submitted by: chuck.schussman
Region: Suffolk, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/celastrina_idella_male.jpg?itok=LHobCajB)
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: dadevine
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 14, 2020
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/filefield_paths/spring_azure_home_mg_1997.jpg?itok=0AlM5Ke7)
Observation date: May 12, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 05, 2018
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/azure_holly_wormsloe_5-10-16_nhc_473.jpg?itok=uH54bk6j)
Observation date: May 10, 2016
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 13, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7949_2.jpg?itok=yPV5V1dD)
Observation date: Mar 30, 2013
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Georgia, Ware County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 11, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/022_41.jpg?itok=_rltvJ19)
Observation date: Mar 30, 2016
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Charlton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 11, 2016
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/blue_azure_summer_butterfly_023.jpg?itok=-q3MqySH)
Observation date: Apr 10, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 23, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/blue_azure_holly_butterfly_wormsloe_160.jpg?itok=JpSMij78)
Observation date: May 01, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 22, 2015
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/celastrina_idella_hayes_sci.jpg?itok=xBt3SE0q)
Observation date: May 04, 2014
Submitted by: cfhayes
Region: Liberty County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 27, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/celastrina_idella_hayes.jpg?itok=6f3ZX2FW)
Observation date: Apr 16, 2013
Submitted by: cfhayes
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 30, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20140424_3595_atlantic_holly_azure_celestrina_idella_overpositing_posture_on_inkberry_ilex_glabre.jpg?itok=xjDlvev6)
Observation date: Apr 24, 2014
Submitted by: fitzclarke@bell...
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 30, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20140425_4145_atlantic_holly_azure_celestrina_idella_male.jpg?itok=-hHvsuvj)
Observation date: Apr 25, 2014
Submitted by: fitzclarke@bell...
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 30, 2014
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org./sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1213.jpg?itok=AjYRWi72)
Observation date: Apr 06, 2013
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: May 10, 2013
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Mar 28, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (H. Pavulaan)
Region: Jones County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Mar 20, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Carla Edwards)
Region: Wayne County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Apr 11, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Emmitt)
Region: Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Apr 15, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Matt Cousins)
Region: Wayne County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Pender County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
![](/sites/default/files/no-image-icon-480x360.png)
Observation date: Apr 16, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL, Carter)
Region: Craven County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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