Atlantic Holly Azure (Celastrina idella)

Atlantic Holly Azure (Celastrina idella)

Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.

Atlantic Holly Azure (Celastrina idella)

Similar to Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) and even more similar to the Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), this recently described butterfly species is fairly common in the North Carolina coastal plain from mid-March through mid-April.

Their host plants are evergreen hollies. In North Carolina Large Gallberry (Ilex coriacea) seems to be the most commonly used species.

Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07

Atlantic Holly Azure (Celastrina idella)

Here you can see a glimpse of the bright pale blue color of the upper surfaces of the wings.

Bladen Co., NC 3/25/07.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.