The mature Summer Azure larva is about 5/8 inch long. The ground color is usually green but can also be brown, pink or cream-colored. The whitish body hair is very short except around the head and rear of the abdomen where it is longer. The adult butterfly has a wingspan of 3/4 – 1 1/4 inches. Ventrally, the wings are pale silver with a few light gray marks. In the early spring, some individuals have darker and heavier gray marks (photo D). the dorsal side of the wings is bright blue. The female has heavy black borders on the forewing. The abdomen is gray.
This common species is one of the earliest butterflies to fly in the spring and can be seen throughout the summer. It is usually seen flying high through the trees, but can also be seen mineralizing at mud puddles and resting on vegetation. The larvae have been photographed on flowers around the nature center in late September.
The eggs are laid in flowers and buds of many plants including dogwoods, viburnums, black snakeroot and meadowsweets. The individual shown here (photos A & B) was eating flowers of wingstem. Ants tend the larva which gives some protection from predators and in return they harvest honeydew produced by the larva (photo C).
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