Gossamer Wings: Spring Azure Celastrina ladon
| Size: | Wingspan ranges from .88" - 1.38" |
| Habitat: | Open deciduous woods, clearings |
| Occurrence Level: | Common |
| Flight Period: | Early April to early May |
| Larval Host Plant: | Dogwood, wild cherry, blueberry |
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Howard County, MD. April 19, 2014
Distinguishing between the Spring Azure (C. ladon) and Summer Azure (C. neglecta) is extremely difficult. I was fortunate to have Harry Pavulaan review these two photos and provide extremely helpful and easy to understand descriptions. As per Harry, in the first photo, "the one with the closed wings shows a peak of that 'greasy' shine of male ladon."
Howard County, MD. April 19, 2014
The second photo is "also a give-away, with a bright reflectance and the white wing veins along the leading edge of the forewing are smeared with white. In neglecta, those veins are crisp, whitish against a solid blue ground color."
Allegany County, MD. April 21, 2015
Underside view of a Spring Azure
Allegany County, MD. April 21, 2015
Upperside view of the same butterfly
Allegany County, MD. April 21, 2015