North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Georgia

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)
JPG -- species photo

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius [Cramer])

Wing span: 3/4 - 1 3/8 inches (2 - 3.5 cm).

Identification: Upperside of males pale blue; females with white patches. Underside tan with broken pale lines; forewing inner margin has "blank" areas with no spots.

Life history: Eggs are laid singly on flower buds of the host plant; caterpillars eat flowers and seedpods. Predation and parasitism may be discouraged by ants, which tend the caterpillars and feed on their sugary secretions.

Flight: All through the year in southern Florida and South Texas. Number of broods has not been determined.

Caterpillar hosts: Ornamental leadwort (Plumbago capensis), rattlebox (Crotalaria incana), hairy milk pea (Galactia volubilis), and lima bean (Phaseolus limensis).

Adult food: Nectar from shepherd's needle, lippia, and many other flowers.

Habitat: Subtropical thorn scrub, forest edges, weedy fields, residential areas.

Range: Florida and the Keys; Texas south through the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America to South America. Strays to New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, and South Carolina.

Conservation: Not usually required.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

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.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford  University Press, 

    Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Harris, L., Jr.  1972  Butterflies of Georgia.  Univ. of Oklahoma Press, Norman,

     OK.  326 pp.

     

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

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.     

Cassius Blue (Leptotes cassius)
distribution map
map legend

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