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Hemiargus ceraunus var. antibubastus
Ceraunus Blue
Antillean Blue
Florida native
This is a very small butterfly mostly found in open sunny parks, yards, roadsides and other ruderal areas. Seen throughout Florida, the range includes the most southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies and northernmost South America.
The wingspan is 22-30mm (7/8 to 1-3/16 in.). Male ceraunus blue butterflies have wings that are lavendar-blue on the upper surface with a narrow black margin and a single black spot on the hindwing. Females are darker on the upperside of the wings with blue mostly near the base of the wings. The wing undersides are similar in both sexes with a black spot bordered in orange on the hindwing margin and otherwise gray with dark bars, white bands and white-rimmed black spots.
Host plants are mostly legumes, including rosary pea (Abrus precatorius), partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), sensitive pea (Chamaecrista nictitans), and indigo species (Indegofera spp.).
Hemiargus ceraunus is a member of the Lycaenidae - Gossamer-winged Butterflies family.
For more information on this species, visit the following link:
The University of Florida IFAS Extension Featured Creatures page for this family
Date record last modified: Jun 11, 2021
