Cassius Blue

  • Family name: Lycaenidae/Gossamer Wings
  • General description: Male violet-blue with white fringes. Female brown with blue scaling limited to wing bases; hindwing of both sexes with dark spots along margin. Wings somewhat translucent. Ventral hindwing white with darker gray bands and two orange-rimmed black eyespots along outer margin.
  • Field Marks: small; ventral hindwing white with darker gray bands and two orange-rimmed black spots along outer margin
  • Sexes: appear different
  • Wingspan: 15-25 mm
  • Life Cycle: Egg: blue, flattened, laid singly on host flowers, flower buds, or developing seed pods Mature larva: variable; green to green with pink or darker green markings Chrysalis: light brown with darker brown markings
  • Number of Generations: 3 or more per year
  • Flight Season: all year
  • Abundance: Common
  • Habitat: disturbed sites, gardens, parks, forest margins, beach dunes, nurseries
  • Larval Host Plants: Milkpea (Galactia pp.), Leadwort (Plumbago auriculata), wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum).
  • Similar Species: Ceraunus Blue
  • Additional Information: Regularly expands range into northern portions of Florida.
  • Range in Florida

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