Marine Blue
ExploreInsects
Marine Blue
Leptotes marina
The Marine Blue is a small butterfly with beautiful blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny places. This little insect is a joy to watch as it dances in the air!
Habitat: Coastal areas
Appearance
The Marine Blue has iridescent blue-violet upper wings that shift color in sunlight, contrasting with silvery-white undersides featuring small black spots. It also has delicate, thin tails on its hindwings, making it distinct among small butterflies.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusLeptotes
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Some Marine Blue caterpillars have a special gland that offers sweet liquid to ants!
The adult butterflies love visiting sunny spots to warm up their blue wings before they fly.
The caterpillars often change color to perfectly match the flowers or pods they are eating.
These tiny butterflies are known to fly hundreds of kilometers, even across open ocean!
Special abilities
Ability
Decoy Tail Defense
Marine Blue has tiny tails on its hindwings that can fool predators into attacking the wrong end, helping them escape.
Ability
Shifting Sky Camo
Marine Blue's iridescent blue wings change color with light, helping them blend perfectly with the sky or stand out to mates.
Ability
Speedy Life Cycle
Marine Blue can grow from egg to adult butterfly very quickly, allowing them to have many generations in one year.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 20-30 mm
- Size
- 10-15 mm
- Lifespan
- 10-20 days
- Flight Speed
- 12 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on leaves, flowers, or seeds of certain plants.
Age differences: Larvae eat plant parts; adults feed on flower nectar.
Primary Foods
- flower nectar
- legume leaves
- legume flowers
- legume seeds
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Nuttall's Milkvetch
Astragalus nuttallianus
Larvae feed on its leaves and flowers.
eats
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
A common predator of adult butterflies.
symbiotic with
Pale-footed Ant
Formica pallidefulva
Ants sometimes tend larvae for their sweet secretions.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
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.
Coastal
Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.
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.
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 and don't try to catch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Marine Blue's wingspan?
20-30 mm
How big is Marine Blue?
10-15 mm
How long does Marine Blue live?
10-20 days
How fast can Marine Blue fly?
12 km/h
What does Marine Blue eat?
Adults sip nectar from flowers, while caterpillars munch on leaves, flowers, or seeds of certain plants.
Where is Marine Blue usually found?
Coastal areas
How does Marine Blue hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Marine Blue have?
6
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