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Holarctic Azures

Celastrina

Holarctic Azures are small, beautiful butterflies that flit around gardens and meadows. Their lovely blue wings can make them look like little pieces of the sky!

Habitat: Forests and meadows

Appearance

The Holarctic Azures has iridescent blue wings, often with dusky borders, and a white or pale grey underside sometimes marked with faint spots. This vibrant blue hue, caused by light interacting with microscopic scales, makes them stand out against green foliage.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusCelastrina
Holarctic Azures
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Holarctic Azures

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Different Azure species can look identical but actually prefer different host plants!

Some Azure caterpillars 'talk' to ants using sugary secretions to get protection!

Their vibrant blue color comes from light bouncing off scales, not from blue pigments.

They spend most of their life as a tiny munching caterpillar before becoming a butterfly.

Special abilities

Ability

Ant Whisperer

Holarctic Azures larvae can produce a sugary liquid from a special gland that attracts ants, that helps them gain protection from predators.

Ability

Color-Shift Wings

Holarctic Azures has structurally colored wings that appear brilliant blue in direct sunlight because of microscopic scales, that helps them attract mates.

Ability

Clever Camouflage

Holarctic Azures has pale undersides, often with subtle patterns, that helps them blend into their surroundings when resting, hiding from hungry birds.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
20-35 mm
Size
10-20 mm
Lifespan
10-25 days
Flight Speed
8 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while their caterpillar babies munch on plant leaves.

Age differences: Larvae (caterpillars) eat leaves and buds; adults drink nectar.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • tree sap
  • flower pollen
  • leaf buds
  • young leaves

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch butterflies from a distance so they feel safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Holarctic Azures's wingspan?

20-35 mm

How big is Holarctic Azures?

10-20 mm

How long does Holarctic Azures live?

10-25 days

How fast can Holarctic Azures fly?

8 km/h

What does Holarctic Azures eat?

Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while their caterpillar babies munch on plant leaves.

Where is Holarctic Azures usually found?

Forests and meadows

How does Holarctic Azures hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Holarctic Azures have?

6

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