Cassius Blue
Leptotes cassius (Cramer, 1775)
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: Upperside of males pale blue; females with white patches. Underside tan with broken pale lines; forewing inner margin has "blank" areas with no spots.
Wing Span: 3/4 - 1 3/8 inches (2 - 3.5 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods. Predation and parasitism may be discouraged by ants, which tend the caterpillars and feed on their sugary secretions.
Flight: All through the year in southern Florida and South Texas. Number of broods has not been determined.
Caterpillar Hosts: Ornamental leadwort (Plumbago capensis), rattlebox (Crotalaria incana), hairy milk pea (Galactia volubilis), and lima bean (Phaseolus limensis). Larva has been reared on the crenulate lead plant, Amorpha crenulata.
Adult Food: Nectar from shepherd's needle, lippia, and many other flowers.
Habitat: Subtropical thorn scrub, forest edges, weedy fields, residential areas.
Range: Florida and the Keys; Texas south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to South America. Strays to New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, and South Carolina.
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.
Comments: Suzanne Koptur (kopturs@fiu.edu) e-mailed to say that her graduate student Lauren Linares reared a caterpillar on the crenulate lead plant. The adult was determined by Dr. William Kern Jr. of the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 400 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 06, 2019
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Wendelin
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 14, 2020
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 26, 2020
Observation date: Oct 28, 2017
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 11, 2020
Observation date: Jul 04, 2020
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 20, 2020
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 20, 2020
Observation date: May 29, 2020
Submitted by: LunaMar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: SurfahSistah
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 16, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: SurfahSistah
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 15, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 10, 2020
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: pegreinhart
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 03, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: acornrabbit
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 29, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 16, 2020
Submitted by: jeankennedy
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 17, 2020
Observation date: Apr 02, 2020
Submitted by: patbell
Region: Seminole County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 20, 2020
Observation date: Apr 12, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 12, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2020
Observation date: Apr 02, 2020
Submitted by: Elmstreet239
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 02, 2020
Observation date: Mar 24, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2020
Observation date: Mar 14, 2020
Submitted by: MarieKubin
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 14, 2020
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