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Appalachian Azure (Celastrina neglectamajor) |
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| DISTRIBUTION in North Carolina: Probably occurs throughout the mountains, as it occurs in Virginia and in northern Georgia. Also occurs in the South Mountains in the western Piedmont. |
| ABUNDANCE in North Carolina: Locally common in a few areas, but probably uncommon over most of the mountains. In fact, in Virginia it is known from about 90% of the mountain counties (Pavulaan 1996), and in West Virginia is it known from about 90% of the Appalachian Mountain counties (Allen 1997). It is scarce as compared with the Spring Azure and the Summer Azure; however, Harry Pavulaan (pers. comm.) observed well over 100 freshly-emerged males at a mud puddle in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.mountains). |
| FLIGHT PERIOD in North Carolina: A single brood; late April into mid-July, depending on elevation. The flight period occurs in the "valley" between the brood of the Spring Azure and the first brood of the Summer Azure. That is, when the males of Appalachian Azures begin to appear from late April to mid-May, generally only females of Spring Azures are present. Female Appalachian Azures fly mainly from late May to early July; in fact, Harry Pavulaan states that Appalachian Azures fly well into July in the higher elevations in the Smokies. Males are probably finished by mid-June, at least in the lower elevations. Male Summer Azures generally emerge as male Appalachians become worn and fly during the flight of female Appalachians. Thus, the statement that Appalachian Azure flies in the gap between the first and second broods of the Spring Azure complex is an over-simplification, as this gap is not a long one, and much overlapping with the single brood of Appalachian Azure occurs. |
 Distribution, abundance, flight period, and map information provided by Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina. |
 05/30/05 · Ashe County, NC
· female(oviposting on Black Cohosh) (same Azure as below) |
 05/30/05 · Ashe County, NC
· female(same Azure as above) |
 06/10/05 · Ashe County, NC |
 06/22/05 · Ashe County, NC
· larva |