Ceraunus Blue
ExploreInsects
Ceraunus Blue
Hemiargus ceraunus
The Ceraunus Blue is a small, beautiful butterfly with bright blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in gardens and fields, making them a delightful sight!
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Ceraunus Blue has iridescent violet-blue upperwings in males, while females are dusky brown with a touch of blue near the body. Its pale grayish-white underwings feature small black spots and faint orange crescents, plus a tiny tail on each hindwing that sets it apart.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusHemiargus
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
The name 'Ceraunus' comes from a Greek word meaning 'thunderbolt'!
Their tiny caterpillars are sometimes 'farmed' by ants for a sweet treat.
They can overwinter as a pupa, patiently waiting for spring to emerge.
This butterfly is one of the most widespread 'blues' in North America.
Special abilities
Ability
Sun Seeker
Ceraunus Blue can absorb warmth from the sun, which helps them quickly become active and fly, even on cooler days.
Ability
Distraction Tails
Ceraunus Blue has delicate hindwing tails and spots that mimic antennae and eyes, tricking predators into attacking the wrong end.
Ability
Rapid Generations
Ceraunus Blue can complete multiple life cycles in a single warm season, allowing their populations to grow quickly.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 22-30 mm
- Size
- 10-15 mm
- Lifespan
- 7-21 days
- Flight Speed
- 15 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Adult Ceraunus Blues sip flower nectar, but their young feast on the leaves of legume plants.
Age differences: Larvae (caterpillars) eat plant leaves, flowers, and seeds; adults drink nectar from flowers.
Primary Foods
- flower nectar
- clover leaves
- partridge pea leaves
- alfalfa leaves
- indigo leaves
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
depends on
Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata
Larvae feed on its leaves.
pollinates
Spanish Needles
Bidens alba
Adults visit flowers for nectar.
symbiotic with
Silky Ant
Formica fusca
Ants protect caterpillars for honeydew.
eaten by
Garden Spider
Argiope aurantia
Can be caught in spider webs.
eaten by
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds prey on adult butterflies.
Traits
Aerial
Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always watch butterflies from a distance so you don't scare them away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ceraunus Blue's wingspan?
22-30 mm
How big is Ceraunus Blue?
10-15 mm
How long does Ceraunus Blue live?
7-21 days
How fast can Ceraunus Blue fly?
15 km/h
What does Ceraunus Blue eat?
Adult Ceraunus Blues sip flower nectar, but their young feast on the leaves of legume plants.
Where is Ceraunus Blue usually found?
Urban areas
How does Ceraunus Blue hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Ceraunus Blue have?
6
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