Summer Azure

Celastrina neglecta

The Summer Azure is a small, beautiful butterfly with lovely blue wings. It flutters around gardens and meadows, bringing joy to everyone who sees it!

Hábitat: Gardens

Aspecto

The Summer Azure is a small, delicate butterfly primarily bright sky-blue on its upper wings, often appearing iridescent, especially in males. Its undersides are pale grayish-white and usually unmarked, which helps distinguish it from similar azure species. Females may have a dusting of dusky gray on their wing margins.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaLycaenidaeGéneroCyaniris

Summer Azure

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Adult Summer Azures get energy from drinking tree sap and mineral-rich puddles too, not only flowers!

Baby Summer Azures (caterpillars) sometimes get protection from ants in exchange for a sweet treat!

Its scientific name, 'neglecta', means 'neglected' because it was once mistaken for another butterfly!

Unlike many caterpillars, these munch on flower buds and young fruits, not just leaves!

Habilidades especiales

Summer Azure caterpillars can change colors to perfectly match the flower buds they eat, helping them hide from hungry birds.

Summer Azures have a long, straw-like proboscis that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside many different flowers.

The Summer Azure can dart and weave erratically in flight, which makes it very difficult for predators to catch.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 22-32 mm
Tamaño: 10-15 mm
Esperanza de vida: 7-14 días
Velocidad de vuelo: 8-15 km/h
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on tender flower buds and young fruits.

Diferencias por edad: Yes, adults drink nectar from flowers, while caterpillars feed on the flower buds and young fruits of various plants.

Alimentos principales

Nectar
Dogwood flower buds
Sumac flower buds
Viburnum berries

Conexiones ecológicas

depends on

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

Larvae consume its flower buds and young fruits.

depends on

Staghorn Sumac

Rhus typhina

Caterpillars feed on its developing flower clusters.

pollinates

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Both visit flowering plants to gather nectar.

symbiotic with

Silky Ant

Formica subsericea

Guards larvae from predators for their sugary fluid.

eaten by

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

Small insectivorous birds prey on adult butterflies.

Rasgos

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Imán para polinizadores

Describe plantas que son particularmente atractivas y beneficiosas para una amplia variedad de organismos polinizadores.

Diurno

Los animales diurnos están activos principalmente durante el día y suelen descansar o dormir por la noche.

Velocista

Este rasgo identifica a los organismos que exhiben una rapidez excepcional en sus movimientos para cazar, escapar o desplazarse.

Adaptado a la ciudad

Esta característica de hábitat indica especies que pueden coexistir con los humanos en entornos urbanos y suburbanos, utilizando estructuras artificiales y espacios verdes.