Cassius Blue
Leptotes cassius
Summary 7
Leptotes cassius, commonly known as the Cassius Blue or Tropical Striped Blue, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Florida and the Keys, Texas south through the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America to South America. Strays can be found in New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri and South Carolina.
North american ecology (us and canada) 8
Leptotes cassius ranges from Argentina and throughout the Antilles north to the United States. It is resident in southern Texas and Southern Florida and migratory northward into the central US, possibly occasionally as far north as Iowa and Utah (Scott 1986). Habitats are subtropical open areas and woods edges. Host plants are usually herbaceous and include species from many families. Eggs are laid on the host plant flowers singly. Larvae are associated with ants. There are many flights all year (Scott 1986).
Sources and Credits
- (c) Anne Toal, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/39139121@N00/2095831371
- (c) Bill Berthet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Theclinae/Polyommatinae/leptotes_cassius_theonus/Leptotes_cassius_theonus_Orange_Co._FLORIDA_USA_23-IX-2006_1_Berthet.jpg
- (c) Barry Nall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://leps.thenalls.net/Species/Polyommatinae/cassius/life/L_cassius_8-4-11FH51.jpg
- (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2009_05_27/IMG_005687.JPG
- (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2009_05_27/IMG_005688.JPG
- (c) Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/specimen_images/ent-lepidoptera/images/2009_05_27/IMG_005689.JPG
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptotes_cassius
- (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/19606042
More Info
- iNat taxon page
- Animal Diversity Web
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- BOLD Systems BIN search
- BugGuide
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- CUIC Insect Images
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
- Moth Photographers Group
- NatureServe Explorer 2.0
