Cassius Blue Butterfly

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Cassius Blue
Leptotes cassius

Family name: Lycaenidae/Gossamer Wings

General description: Male violet-blue with white fringes. Female brown with blue scaling limited to wing bases; hindwing of both sexes with dark spots along margin. Wings somewhat translucent. Ventral hindwing white with darker gray bands and two orange-rimmed black eyespots along outer margin.

Field Marks: small; ventral hindwing white with darker gray bands and two orange-rimmed black spots along outer margin

Sexes: appear different

Wingspan: 15-25 mm

Life Cycle: Egg: blue, flattened, laid singly on host flowers, flower buds, or developing seed pods Mature larva: variable; green to green with pink or darker green markings Chrysalis: light brown with darker brown markings

Number of Generations: 3 or more per year

Flight Season: all year

Abundance: Common

Habitat: disturbed sites, gardens, parks, forest margins, beach dunes, nurseries
Counties: Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, De Soto, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia
Larval Host Plants: Milkpea (Galactia pp.), Leadwort (Plumbago auriculata), wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum).

Similar Species: Ceraunus Blue

Additional Information: Regularly expands range into northern portions of Florida.


Thanks for stopping by,

Craig Glenn
WeLoveButterflies.com