Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6
Celastrina serotina
This record describes Celastrina serotina (species). Recorded family: Lycaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
One of the Azure species that has pale wing surfaces on the underside. Perhaps best separated by its size, distribution, and time of flight. 2 images to date (22 Jan 06) in the Guide: #16426 ventral male, #34126 dorsal female Pavulaan & Wright give a very detailed description. Canada records may be invalid. See update by Schmidt & Layberry 2016 .
Identification notes
One of the Azure species that has pale wing surfaces on the underside. Perhaps best separated by its size, distribution, and time of flight. 2 images to date (22 Jan 06) in the Guide: #16426 ventral male, #34126 dorsal female Pavulaan & Wright (2005) give a very detailed description.
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
All habitats within its range, including suburban lawn and garden areas
Geographic Range
northeastern United States and eastern Canada
Seasonal Activity
Flight season about 4 weeks in any one location. Flies between the earlier Spring Azure and the later Summer Azure. Extreme dates are early May to early July. Flies in the early part of this period in its most southern range, and in the latter part of this period in its northern range. Emerges after Spring Azure and before Summer Azure.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: In southern part of range, caterpillars feed almost exclusively on galls on the upper surface of leaves of Black Cherry ( Prunus serotina ); other food in northern part of range includes Viburnum, Diervilla, Aralia, Ceanothus, Cornus .
Life History
Single brooded (1 generation per year)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: serotina : from the Latin sero or serus meaning "coming late". In a biological sense meaning coming later in the season than the Spring Azure.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Celastrina serotina. 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 Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Tony; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Robin McLeod , Chuck Entz , Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6
What is Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6?
Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6 (Celastrina serotina) is a species in the family Lycaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6?
Forewing length 10-15 mm
How do you identify Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6?
One of the Azure species that has pale wing surfaces on the underside. Perhaps best separated by its size, distribution, and time of flight. 2 images to date (22 Jan 06) in the Guide: #16426 ventral male, #34126 dorsal female Pavulaan & Wright (2005) give a very detailed description.
Where is Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | All habitats within its range, including suburban lawn and garden areas |
| Range | northeastern United States and eastern Canada |
What does Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6 eat?
The diet of the Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6 includes In southern part of range, caterpillars feed almost exclusively on galls on the upper surface of leaves of Black Cherry ( Prunus serotina ); other food in northern part of range includes Viburnum, Diervilla, Aralia, Ceanothus, Cornus ..
When is Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6 active?
Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6: seasonal activity - Flight season about 4 weeks in any one location. Flies between the earlier Spring Azure and the later Summer Azure. Extreme dates are early May to early July. Flies in the early part of this period in its most southern range, and in the latter part of this period in its northern range. Emerges after Spring Azure and before Summer Azure..
What is the life cycle of a Cherry Gall Azure - Hodges#4363.6?
Single brooded (1 generation per year)