Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)

Fairly common in the NC piedmont (& western portion of the coastal plain) & more common in the NC mountains, taxonomy of these azures is still under study. Males of this species are more violet-blue above than the medium blue Holly Azures or Summer Azures. Also known as "Edwards'" Azure, these butterflies are single brooded in NC generally flying from Feb into May. Note that current azure experts believe it's not possible to identify many (most) azures from photographs of the undersides alone. For positive identification, one should examine the top (dorsal) surfaces of the wings to look at subtle color differences and scale structures.
Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Azure (Celastrina sp.)
Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure
Orange Co., NC
14 Mar 2008
Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure
Orange Co., NC
5 Apr 2014

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
Orange Co., NC
16 May 2017

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure
Orange Co., NC
11 Apr 2005
Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure
Orange Co., NC
30 Mar 2005

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Male -- in flight photo. Note the whitish sheen and the hints of violet shades within the blue.
Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006
Roadkilled male; possibly a Summer Azure, according to Harry Pavulaan.
Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
Graham Co., NC
28 Apr 2006
Graham Co., NC
28 Apr 2006

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure
Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006
Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure
Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Spring Azure or spring brood Summer Azure

Durham, NC
2 Apr 2006

Same individual in both pictures

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon)
Very worn
Orange Co., NC
27 Apr 2008
Very worn
Orange Co., NC
27 Apr 2008

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Different individual from above with a different spot pattern: Note that this bug does not show the spot PAIR at the mid costal (leading) edge of the hindwing (as in the individual above). Instead, the lower spot is offset to the apex of the vertical line in the middle of the wing. I don't usually see this pattern.

Orange Co, NC
29 Mar 05

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Very worn
Haywood Co., NC
13 May 2005

Azure puddle party, possibly a mix of Spring and Summer.

Males imbibe salts & other minerals from moist ground in behaviors known as "puddling".

Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) Azures in a puddle party with a Juvenal's Duskywing

Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006



Below are Montana azures. While NABA still treats these as Spring Azures, most modern taxonomists accept that these are Echo Azures, C. echo
Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7929
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012
Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7934
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012

Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7952
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012

Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7926
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012
Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7929
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012
Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7932
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012
Echo Spring Azure (Celastrina echo), #7955
Rock Creek, Missoula Co., MT
7 MAy 2012


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Created on ... March 29, 2005 | Updated on ... Mar 15, 2008 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com