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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of West Virginia

Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglecta-major)
JPG -- species photo

Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglecta-major [Tutt])

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 inches (3.2 - 3.9 cm).

Identification: Upperside of male all blue. Female without much white scaling on hindwing. Underside of hindwing mostly chalky white with submarginal row reduced to 1 or 3 distinct black spots.

Life history: Caterpillars eat flowers.

Flight: One flight from May-June in the Appalachians.

Caterpillar hosts: Bugbane (Cimicifuga racemosa).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Rich, deciduous woods, especially near streams.

Range: Central and southern Appalachians from southern Pennsylvania south to northern Georgia. Isolated populations in southwest Missouri, eastern Tennessee, central Kentucky, and southern Ohio.

Conservation: Habitat may be threatened by the spread of garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis).

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: Survey habitats and protect them from alteration and exotic plants.

References:


Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the  Great Plains. Johns 

    Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.



Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern  butterflies. Peterson 

    field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,  Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Allen, T.J. 1997.  The Butterflies of West Virginia and Their Caterpillars.  

     University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA.  388 pp. 



Layberry, R.A., Hall, P.W. & Lafontaine, D.J., 1998.  The Butterflies of 

     Canada.  University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON.  280 pp. 

     

Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format.

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.

Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglecta-major)
distribution map
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