LepidopteraLycaenidae – Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters

Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3

Celastrina humulus

This record describes Celastrina humulus (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3 - Celastrina humulus
Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz

The taxon is based largely on larval host plant difference.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily
Papilionoidea
Family
Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks, Harvesters)
Subfamily
Polyommatinae
Genus
Celastrina (Azures)

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Known from the east base of the Front Range in Colorado.

Diet and Behavior

Diet: Larval host: Hops - Humulus

About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group

Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Celastrina humulus. Species-specific details appear above.

Group overview

Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.

Ecological role of the group

Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.

Economic and practical significance of the group

Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.

Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3

What is Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3?

Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3 (Celastrina humulus) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.

Where is Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3 found?

Range: Known from the east base of the Front Range in Colorado.

What does Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3 eat?

The diet of the Hops Azure - Hodges#4363.3 includes Larval host: Hops - Humulus.

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.