Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of male light blue with a darker narrow border; female dark brown, often with wing bases blue. Underside gray; both wings with a row of dark postmedian dashes. Florida butterflies have one submarginal eyespot on hindwing; Southwest butterflies have two.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 1/8 inches (2 - 3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during warm hours of the day for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on flower buds or leaves of host plant; caterpillars feed on flowers and seedpods.
Flight: Throughout the year in Texas and south Florida, late summer in other parts of its range.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of woody legumes including partridge pea (Cassia brachiata), mesquite (Prosopis species), and rosary pea (Abrus precatorius).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open woodland, desert scrub, dunes, pastures, road edges, and vacant lots.
Range: U. S. Southwest, South Texas, Florida and the Keys south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to South America. Strays to North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, and Nevada.
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 25 - 48 of 831 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 05, 2024
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2024
Observation date: Oct 27, 2023
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 20, 2024
Observation date: Dec 01, 2023
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 20, 2024
Observation date: Feb 09, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 10, 2024
Observation date: Jan 05, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 31, 2024
Observation date: Oct 18, 2023
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 22, 2024
Observation date: Jan 13, 2024
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Oaxaca, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 13, 2024
Observation date: Nov 15, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Dec 05, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 05, 2023
Observation date: Nov 17, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: May 06, 2018
Submitted by: Marek Bartczak
Region: Matanzas, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 13, 2023
Observation date: Nov 03, 2023
Submitted by: Sherman84
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 05, 2023
Observation date: Oct 26, 2023
Submitted by: tylerjkrul
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 01, 2023
Observation date: Oct 29, 2023
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: Mary Chadsey
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Yuma County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Sep 22, 2023
Submitted by: Bugfae
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 22, 2023
Observation date: Sep 10, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 18, 2023
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: sgensits
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: May 15, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 12, 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
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