The 'blues' are a subfamily of Lycaenidae which also includes butterflies with such colourful names as harvesters, coppers and hairstreaks.
The Eastern Tailed Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Spring Azure, Summer Azure, Silvery Blue, Northern Blue, Greenish Blue, and Arctic Blue may be found throughout Canada. The Square-spotted Blue, Rocky Mountain Dotted Blue, Arrowhead Blue, Melissa Blue, Boisduval's Blue, Shasta Blue, Acmon Blue and Cranberry Blue are primarily western species. The Marine Blue, Reakirt's Blue and Cherry Gall Blue are extremely rare at any location in Canada. There has been some discussion about whether the Cherry Gall Azure is a separate species.
All the males of these species are blue. The females have varying amounts of brown or gray, sometimes with blue. They have a complex pattern of dark spots and bands on the underside of the wings. All have rounded wings, are weak fliers and are regularly seen on flowers or hovering near food plants. The eggs are laid on flowers. The larvae eat flowers and fruit. Hibernation may be as an egg, larvae or pupa.
The Eastern Tailed Blue is a common species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrance forest of central Ontario. The male is purplish blue and the female is dark brown. They have a series of scattered black spots on the upper side of the wings. The trailing edge of the hind wing has a several black spots, rimmed with metallic blue and with conspicuous orange caps.
They have a wingspan of 16 to 26 ml (.5” to 1”). They are often found near cow vetch and red and white clover where the female lays her eggs. They are a fickle species common one year and absent for several.
Spring Azure is a confusing species. Ongoing studies have revealed that at least six species hold this name. At present the only way to tell them apart is by their choice of food. The male spring azure is pale blue with a broad black border on the outer quarter of the fore wing, wingspan is 18 to 28 ml (.5” to 1”).
The eggs are laid on flower buds. The larvae eat flowers and fruits. They produce a sweet honey-dew secretion that is attractive to ants which tend to the larvae in exchange for the honey-dew and protection from predators.
The Summer Azure was thought to be a second-brood form of the spring azure but such is not the case.
Both male and female are pale blue with an extensive dusting of white scales. Both Spring and Summer Azures are most often found feeding on dogwoods, meadowsweet and viburnums.
The Silvery Blue and the Greenish Blue butterflies can be identified by their forewing colour as their names suggest. The former is a silvery, light blue and the latter a pale, metallic blue. The eggs of both species are laid singly on flowers and fruits. The larvae eat both and are tended by ants.
The larvae of the Silvery Blue prefer clovers and alfalfa and will change colour depending on the type of food the are eating. The Greenish Blue eat white and alsike clover but not red clover.
It is difficult to distinguish one blue from another while they are flying. They are easily caught with a net but must be handled carefully because they are very delicate.
Photos by Clayton Rollins
The Eastern Tailed Blue, Western Tailed Blue, Spring Azure, Summer Azure, Silvery Blue, Northern Blue, Greenish Blue, and Arctic Blue may be found throughout Canada. The Square-spotted Blue, Rocky Mountain Dotted Blue, Arrowhead Blue, Melissa Blue, Boisduval's Blue, Shasta Blue, Acmon Blue and Cranberry Blue are primarily western species. The Marine Blue, Reakirt's Blue and Cherry Gall Blue are extremely rare at any location in Canada. There has been some discussion about whether the Cherry Gall Azure is a separate species.
All the males of these species are blue. The females have varying amounts of brown or gray, sometimes with blue. They have a complex pattern of dark spots and bands on the underside of the wings. All have rounded wings, are weak fliers and are regularly seen on flowers or hovering near food plants. The eggs are laid on flowers. The larvae eat flowers and fruit. Hibernation may be as an egg, larvae or pupa.
The Eastern Tailed Blue is a common species in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrance forest of central Ontario. The male is purplish blue and the female is dark brown. They have a series of scattered black spots on the upper side of the wings. The trailing edge of the hind wing has a several black spots, rimmed with metallic blue and with conspicuous orange caps.
They have a wingspan of 16 to 26 ml (.5” to 1”). They are often found near cow vetch and red and white clover where the female lays her eggs. They are a fickle species common one year and absent for several.
Spring Azure is a confusing species. Ongoing studies have revealed that at least six species hold this name. At present the only way to tell them apart is by their choice of food. The male spring azure is pale blue with a broad black border on the outer quarter of the fore wing, wingspan is 18 to 28 ml (.5” to 1”).
The eggs are laid on flower buds. The larvae eat flowers and fruits. They produce a sweet honey-dew secretion that is attractive to ants which tend to the larvae in exchange for the honey-dew and protection from predators.
The Summer Azure was thought to be a second-brood form of the spring azure but such is not the case.
Both male and female are pale blue with an extensive dusting of white scales. Both Spring and Summer Azures are most often found feeding on dogwoods, meadowsweet and viburnums.
The Silvery Blue and the Greenish Blue butterflies can be identified by their forewing colour as their names suggest. The former is a silvery, light blue and the latter a pale, metallic blue. The eggs of both species are laid singly on flowers and fruits. The larvae eat both and are tended by ants.
The larvae of the Silvery Blue prefer clovers and alfalfa and will change colour depending on the type of food the are eating. The Greenish Blue eat white and alsike clover but not red clover.
It is difficult to distinguish one blue from another while they are flying. They are easily caught with a net but must be handled carefully because they are very delicate.
Photos by Clayton Rollins
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