Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4
Celastrina neglectamajor
This record describes Celastrina neglectamajor (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Best identified by finding adult ovipositing or larvae feeding on flower buds of hostplant.
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
Habitat
Rich hardwood forests.
Geographic Range
Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to New York, also southern Missouri.
Seasonal Activity
One flight period, late April through mid-July (North Carolina). Farther north, the flight period beings in mid-May and continues into early July.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Flowers of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) .
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Celastrina neglectamajor. 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.
Photos of Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Will Cook , anitagould , Corey Husic
Frequently Asked Questions About Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4
What is Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4?
Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4 (Celastrina neglectamajor) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4?
Noticeably larger than Summer Azure and Spring Azure.
How do you identify Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4?
Best identified by finding adult ovipositing or larvae feeding on flower buds of hostplant.
Where is Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Rich hardwood forests. |
| Range | Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to New York, also southern Missouri. |
What does Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4 eat?
The diet of the Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4 includes Flowers of Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) ..
When is Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4 active?
Appalachian Azure - Hodges#4363.4: seasonal activity - One flight period, late April through mid-July (North Carolina). Farther north, the flight period beings in mid-May and continues into early July..